Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-13
ANTHR0POL0GY HIS THEME
ANNUAL ADDRESS OF DIR. HRD-
LICKA BEFORE LOCAL SOCIETY.
Objects Of Physical Research
Branch Of Science Of Compare
lively Recent origin.


The history of physical anthropology, its
accomplishments, aims and future deveI-
opment In America were considered last
Tuesday by DR.. A. Hrdlicka OF the Ma
tional Museum in his annual address as
president of the Anthropological Society
Of Washington before the Washington
Academy of Science
DR.. Hrdlicka pleaded for less prejudice
against the use of dead bodies for an
thropology. He declared:
Religious beliefs and superstition, but
also love, enshroud the dead body every
where with a sacredness of awe, which
no man is willingly permitted to disturb.
1t is seldom appreciated that the scientist
is not a vandal, that the remains are
guarded in his laboratory, not sentiment
ally, 1t Is true. but with the utmost care
and for the most worthy ends, including
the benefit OF the living. Instead of this
the mind Of the bereaved friends is only
apprehensive of mutilation and sacrilege-
or simply, unreasoningly. fears the dis
turbance. These conditions extend, with
small exceptions, to the civilized and saw
age alike. and to collect, in their pres
ence. large supplies of material indis-
pensable to physical anthropology is often
arduous and unsatisfactory"
Defines Anthropology.
President Hrdlicka began by defining
anthropology as that portion of system
attic research which deals with the diff
ferences in structure, in function and in
all other manifestations Of mankind. ac-
cording to time, variety, place and con-
dition.
This branch of science. he said, really
had its beginning less than fifty years
ago, with the work of Paul BrOca In Paris.
Since then 1t has developed rapidly. The
speaker next turned to some Of the OBJ
stacles encountered in the development.
These were, he said. the imperfect state
of the anatomical knowledge, which is the
starting point Of physical anthropology:
the defects in collections Of needed ma
terial. the derth Of properly trained men,
and the difficulties, based on various
prejudices or incomprehension, attending
the collection of accurate anthropologfcal
data in many parts of the uncivilized and
even the civilized world.
Some of the Results.
AS to what it has already accomplished,
Mr.. Hrdlicka said:
cit established a system of precise
measuring OF man and his remains and
furnished the needed Instruments: it has
directly advanced general anatomy, par
ticularly that of the skeletal system and
the brain and contributed to zoology, gen.
eral biology and to other natural sci
ences; it established the physical knowl-
edge of the races and many of their SUBJ
divisions, and aided through it's activities
in the advance of its sister branches, eth
nology and archaeology: 1t gave a far
reaching impetus to search for the re-
mains Of early man and determined the
physical characteristics of the finds made;
1t actuated and to large extent carried
out the study of mans development from
it's inception onward; 1t brought about
physical investigation, and through this a
vast Improvement in our knowledge of
the criminal and other defective classes:
it led directly to the practical system Of
identification OF criminals: it took part In
and promoted the studies in human he
redity, variation, degeneration and hy-
bridity; 1t added to the knowledge of the
functions and pathology of the human
body. and Especially the brain; it further
ed vital statistics. and it has already be-
gun to assist other branches in pointing
out. on the basis Of gained knowledge,
ways toward safeguarding and improv-
ing the human race"
Future Aims.
Turning next to the future field and
aims of physical anthropology, Dr. Hrd-
licka summarized as follows:
1.-The main needs-which logically be-
come the aims-of the anthropologists
themselves include more regular and ex-
tended recruiting Of their ranks: a closer
general unity aRd cooperation among
physical anthr0pologists of the different
countries: definite unification and perfec-
ton o. anthropometry in its wide range;
systematization of the methods Of treat
ing and recording Of data: the supply of
modern text books, and advance toward
strictly specialized periodicals.; the COM
cOnnlafP hihlinQra rel "a m
to this branch of research and its contin-
uation: the generalization of information
concerning collections of material. and
the augmentation and Improvement of co.,
lections."
The need for larger collections of brains
and skeletons was emphasized by the
speaker. Among special needs mentioned
he said. are the largest possible acquisi-
tons of skeletal remains from all periods
of peoples known the longest in history,
such as the Egyptians. the Semites, the
Chinese, for the aScertainment of physi-
cal variations in different localities in
known time; also a large collection of
brains and substantial series of at least
the skeletal parts and brains Of the an
and other apes, for purposes of
Urgent Scientific Object.
AS to the objects to be accomplished in
physical anthropology he said: 1.-The
most urgent and important scientific OBJ
ject Is the gradual completion, in collab-
grafton with the ANTAGONISTS. the physiolo-
gists and even the chemist, of the study
of the normal white man. living under
conditions. and Of the complete
range of his variations, these facts to
form solid and sufficient basis for all
The second task to to per-
feet or aid to perfect the detailed knowl-
edge Of the structure. function and chem
ical composition-with then variations
in the primates. The third great duty
is the determination Of development and
the variation in mans structure and
Also. as far as possible. in other Or