Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-12
A STUDY Of MAN
The Work of the Government
Anthropologist.
I,ndesvors 70 Ascertai " lie Can
what Man WINS, whnt lie Is
and what lie VIII lie.

inc structure OF mankind. This man is
DR.. Ales Hrdlicka of the national
museum, says the Washington CORE
spondent of the Boston Transcript. lie
is called the government physical an
thropologist. His business is 10 ascertain
II he can what man was. what he IL, and
what he IL likely to be. His investiga-
tions are based largely upon extensive
men snresments OF the various living
groups OF mankind. of skeletons and
skulls with ;h-ir brain spaces, and of
the remains of all extinct races Of men
running back into the apes and the
monkeys As a separate science physical |
antropology is one of the youngest. |
III recent letter to the Transcript it |
was pointed ont that Dr. Hrdlicka has |
reached the conclusion that to the pres |
ent day on this continent no human
bones of undsput"d geological! antiquity |
are known-hus challenging the claims
of many noted finds from the Cniaveras
skull tn IN" Nebraska "loess man
Asked TO summarize his views as to
what has been done what is being done, |
and what it is still possible to do through
Investigations of this sort, Or. Hrdlicka
sa id to the correspondent of the Tran
script:
himself, He has taken delight in find-
ing out what he can do physically and
mentally. what is good for him and what
is not. ana what can be done for him in
order to improve either his individual
condition or his condition as one of a
great family Of animals. In general the
study of mankind is called anthropoogy.
For purposes of investigation the
= lHN NJ M Iy dpJ h,,
engaged in such researches into physi-
cal and cultural anthropoloEy. cultural
anthropo'ogY deals usually in a compare
tive manner with everything that has
been done or can be done in tn" indus
! trial economical and social development
OF mankind Physical anthropology
| treats. also in comparative manner. ot
the structure Of man, his past develop
ment as an animal. the influence that
Affect his physical growth. and the lines
along which he is likely. or may be made
to develop in tho future.
I'm tho name Of physical anthropology
arc conducted Investigations to determine
| what man was physically, how he is to-
day, and in what directions he is likely
TO develop in the future. such investi-
cations are conducted. when authorize
| tive at all. by exhaustive systems Of
| measurements and Compa risons of living
beings and of skulls. brain spaces, and
| skeletons. Data thus obtained and cal
| cultationS based on them are then used
| to determine the average and the range
| OF variation in form Of one race OF men
and womcn-the white race, for instance
which in turn are placed alongside Of
similar figures taken from the black
| race, the yellow race, or the red race
and their differences scientifically deter
| mined. Such measurements of men Of
the present day may then be considered
| in relation to very early remains dug up
in southern Europe or the skeletons and
skulls of anthropod apes. to find out
just what changes have taken place since
man became man. From considera tons
of this sort, when thoroughly worked
out. it may he possible to tell in what
direction We are growing.
But measurements OF the structure Of
present man are also very useful in deter
mining the organic characteristics OF ex-
ccptionally capable men or physca lly
defective human beings. such as chronic
alcoholics. epileptcs, idiots and Grim
mails
The beginnings of study in the field OF
physical anthropology were INSTRUCTED by
many barriers of religious beliefs, gov
ornamental restrictions and even police
regulations. The first book in what
might he called this field was published,
however, as early as 1876 by Peyrere un-
der the title Of Ircada1ntes.' Another
appeared in 1864. by Tyson. called Com
parative Anatomy of Man and Monkey
Iinnaeus in I735. in his cornerstone OF
science. the Systema Naturae' gave q
foundation upon which to base physical
anthropology, by considering man for the
first time in connection with livin1, cres
lures in general. Not until 30 years ago
however, did students OF man begin tc
, get together. A petition to the project Of
a police to Organize a society in Paris was
fatty refused. but no law was found to
, prevent the assembly Of less than 90 per
sons. IS OF whom were allowed TO NEE
al stated intervals In the presence OF :
. plain dressed police Officer 10 see tina
nothing was said against government OF
religion. After that anthropological Jour
, | nails began to be published. and finall!
= | the study OF man IN general was divided
p SO that mans structure became a sep
| a-atc branch OF the subject.
, THE imperfect knowledge OF anatom,
for this purpose. the lack Of full coliec
: | tons or nlaterial, or properly trained
l, men, and of publications on the subject
/ have Handicapped investigators. yet mucl
has been accomplished. Physical an
4 thropology has directly advanced genera
g anatomy. especially in regard to tn
| skeleton and the brain. and has con
9 tributed to zoology, general biology an,
. | other natural sciences. 1t has establish
~ ed the physical knowledge of races an
II many of their subdivisions. IT gave a
n impetus to search for remains OF earl
n man. and determined the physical char
=. acteristics OF the finds; it actuatcd an
~ largely carried out the study of man
l. development from his very beginning
d brought about physical investigation, an
through this a vast Improvement Of on
l. knowledge of the criminal and other dc
~ fective classes. 1t led directly to IN
/. practical systems of Identification @
,s criminals. IT took part in and promote
f. the studies in human hercdity. vara
" ton. degeneration and racial interna'
II | rage. It added to the knowlc ledge of tn
l. functions and pathology of the huma
>. body. and especially the brain. 1t furthr'
III ed vital statistics, and 1t has already be
l. gun to assist other branches in pointin
# out. on the basis 81 gained knowledge
WAYS toward the safeguarding and in
n, proying of the human race.
Is "rhe men engaged in research OF tn
H. sort are completing a study OF the MOI
,c mai white man living under average cor