The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-05-18
The WEIGHT OF THE BRAIN.
Its Relation to InteIlect-Connection
Between the Brain Cells.

Its Relation to InteIlect-Connection
Between the Brain Cells.
Other factors besides brain weight
are known to influence intelligence.
It has long been known that the dis
tinguishing character of the human
brain is the large number of connect
ing fbres, by which its cells are CO.
ordinated. In no other species are
they SO numerous or complicated. The
cells constitute but very small part
of the weight. There is now consider
able evidence that the same rule ap-
plies among individual men, and that
those of great intelligence have more
connections, SO that their cells can
do more and better team work"
Some investigations have shown the
corpus callosum to have large cross
section in men who had shown great
ability. 1t is also known that the
brains of able men are likely to pres
ent more convolutions and deeper
ones than the average, as though
there were more brain cells as well
as more connections. A few observa-
lions in the lower races point to the
fact that their brains are essentially
different in microscopic organization.
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 class suca
men do possess brains heavier than
the average.
The mistake arises from the failure
to recognize that noted men who have
shown intellectual power not 1nfre-
quently were sharply limited to one
or two directions, being very defective
in other directions. Blind Tom was
an idiot, in fact-an extreme case OF
what is quite common. At the other
extreme was Gambetta, who was not
much more than an orator, whose
cerebral speech centres were round
to be highly developed. The rest OF
his brain was small and his general
intellectual power and judgments
were decidedly defective. Ability IN
one or two lines may make a man
famous, while he is really very de-
fectiye and his brain proves to be
small.
Heavy brains are not necessarily
intellectual ones, or elephants would
be in the class of geniuses. The ma
terial might also be pathologic ana
the possessor an imbecile. 1t often nap
pens that men of big brain and great
ability suffer from early neglect and
are found in lowly employments OF
NAV remain ignorant through life.
These few facts do not prove that
large brains are worthless and nor
indicative of mental power as rule.
We cannot get away from the fact
that man as an animal is supreme be-
cause of his large brain; that among
races the brainiest are the nlgnest'
and that in any one race the most
intelligent, as a rule, are those VINO
have the most brains.
Men Of small brains are not the
leaders, and no statistics or the brain
weights of a few exceptional men
noted for limited abilities, can reverse
the rule. Universities do not create
brains, but merely train what exists,
so that the owners are better fitted
for the battle Of life. Many man IS
sent to college who should be hand
ling a pick and shovel, and he never
amounts to much, even though ne
subsequently makes mis- living at
some very limited specialty.-Ameri-
can Medicine.