Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-28
GAVE BRAINS TO SCIENCE.
More Similar Requests Wanted-A
Strong Demand.

1t MAY not be generally known that
over the civilized world there is Il
strong demand for brains that are q
little above the average in quality; not
intelligence, intellect, or genius, but
literally that part of the human or
canlsm which IL contained within the
skull and is known as the brain.
Scientists who devote themselves to
the study of comparative anatomy
have for the most part nothing better
to tisscct than the brains of paupers
and lunatics. These, however, leave
much t. be desired, and it is to the
interest of the human family that the
brains of cultured and learned people
should be placed al the disposal of
those patient and iaborius men who
are engaged in the vastly important
work of unravelling the secrets of the
working of the mind.
But it must not be supposed that a
certain number Of such brains are not
forthcoming. Comparatively speak
ing, they are few, but still more nu-
nercuS than most people imagine. In
The great majority of cases they are
bequeathed by their respective owners.
On one occasion Sir William Fowler
the famous authority on comparative
anatomy, in addressing an audience Of
cultured men and women, spoke of the
difficulties he and his fellow workers
had to contend with in having little
else than brains of people Of low in
telloct to dissect, and went so far as
t. appeal TO the audience to help sci
cncc ii. this matter in the only posi-
bic way.
On the conclusion of his address SOW
cral members of the audience. includ-
ing few ladies, promised to beQucath
their brains to him. and. it is said
proved as good rs their word. More
than one man OF great emincnco has
regarded 1t as something in tho nature
If a duty to DO this i'll the interest of
science Prof Goodwin Smith, for in
stance, some time ago formally willcd
his brains of Cornell University.
Some remarkable brains nave been
sold. not given. An Enslishman who
callS himself Datas has disposed OF
his to an American university for $40
600. He is a man of little education.
and for many years worked as q coal
miner. But he has a marvellous mem
ory. especially for dates. and is now
earning = handsome income on the
music hall stage. Any member of the
audience may ask him the date of
sorlo occurrence. and is answered in
Stantly. 1t is considered that his
brain must show some very unusual
development. and there was not n lit
Tie biding to secure it after death.
1t staris to reason that the brain of
n man Of intellect offers 4 much rich
er fl I'D for observation than the brain
Of a paupor or some other human de-
relict. Tie b1 aims of great men vary
very much more, in fact. than DO
those OF nonentitics. 1t is found that
men of encyclopaedia mind have
large and heavy brains-Cilad-
stone had to wear a very big hat
with an enormous bed of gray mat
ter and numerous convolutions; on the
other hand, men whose genius is con-
centrated upon one line of thought
are Of small brain, and consequently
have a email head.
Newton, Bryon and Cromwell be-
longe1 to this class and each had q
small head. Yet many people imagine
that this is n sign of small mental ca
racity.- \ visitor who was shown the
the skull of Cromwell was so disap-
pointed at its size that the caretaker
of the relic endeavored to console him
by SAYING that this was the skull of
the great Roundhead when he was a
boy. Prof. Symes-Thompson told this
anecdote in a recent lecture, and he
also mentioned that Newton was so
small when born that he could be put
in a quart jar.-Bridgeport Telegram