Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1906-11-09
IS NOT ALL
MANY OTHER FACTORS IN DE-
TERMINING BRAIN POWER.
When the Cells Are So Constituted as
to Give Ability for "Team
Work." High Intelligence
Is Present.

Other factors besides brain weight
has long been known that the dis.in
gushing character OF the human brain
Is Ii large number OF connecting
fibers by which It's cells are co-ordi-
mated. In no other species are they
SO numerous or complicated. The cells
constitute but n very small part of the
weight. Theirs Is now considerable
evidence that the same rule applies
among individual men and that those
OF great intelligence a more con-
nections. so that their cells can do
more and better team work."
Some investigations have shown the
corpus callosum to have a large cross
section in men who have shown great
ability. 1t is also known hat the
brains OF able men are likely to pre-
sent more commissions and deeper ones
than the average, rs II there were
more brain cells as well as more con-
nections. A few observations in the
lower races point to the fact that their
brains are essentially different In mi
]croscopic organization, partly account
ing for less intelligence.
All these facts will fully explain
why men of intelligence in the higher
races may have brains not notably
heavy, but they do not disprove the
general statement that as a class such
men To possess brains heavier than the
average.
The mistake arises from the failure
to recognize that noted men who have
shown intellectual power not infre-
quently were yIarDIy limited to one OF
two directions, being very defective in
other directions. Blind Tom was an
idiot, III fact-an extreme case OF what
Is quite common. At the other eX-
rene was Gambetta, who was not
much more than an orator, whose Ccre-
bral speech Ceuters were found to be
hiehly develorcd. The rest OF his
brain was small, and h. general in
tellectual power II judgment were
decidedly defective. Ability in one or
two lines may make Il man famous,
while he is ally very defective, and
his brain proves TO Ire small.
Heavy brains are not necessarily in
tellectual ones, or elephants would be
in the class cf geniuses.
The material might also be patho-
logic and the possessor an imbec!le.
1t often happens that men OF big
brain and great ability suffer from
early neglect and are found In lowIy
employments or may remain ignorant
through life. These few facts do not
prove that large brains are worthless
and no! indicative OF mental power as
n rule. We Cdanot get away from the
fact that mar as an animal is supreme
because of his large brain; that among
races the brain!est are the highest, and
that in any one race the most intel
ligent, as a rTle, are thoge who have
the most brains.
Men of small brains are not the lead
erS, and no statistics of the brain
weights OF n few exceptional men
noted for limited abilities can reverse
the rule. Tin. stiles do no. create
brains, but merely train what g *, lists,
SO that the owners are bc' ter fitted for
the battle o. life. Many n man is
sent 10 college who should be handling
n pick and shovel. and he never
amounts to nuch, even though he
subsequently makes his living at some
very limited speciality.