The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-12
BRAINS FOR SALE.

Most of as arc realizing on our brains But
we are not realizing much Perhaps it Is be
cause We haven't many brains. BE that il
may. Nc are employing what have got in the
pursuit Of a livelihood and in the contribution
we are trying TO make to the sum of a worlds
welfare
II has not occurred to us. however, that
brains were negotiable asset. Perhaps the
failure to discover this Is because nobody has
as yet made a bid for our brains. The market
In brains is very exacting The demand is for
Al stock, quality. size and weight up to stand
ard. The sample produce In daily endeavor
does not indicate. maybe, that the stock We
have for sale meets the requirements of deal
ers in brains The probability s that We shall
be just about able To keep buckle and tongue
together by working our brains overtime dur
ing life. aud then at death our heirs will be
unable to realize this asset of our estate
The case Is vastly different with one of the
great teachers Of our Southland She has pro-
dueed SO much and so great work in her pro
fession as TO call the attention of specialists to
her brain power. The quality being up to re-
quirements, il Is said that scientists suspect
that the size aud weight are abnormally large
Hence they desired this particular set of brains
for the purposes of AUTOPSY Negotiations we're
instituted between the owner of the brains and
the authorities Of an institution for medical
research, witt the result that the scientists
paid $4,000 for this particular set of brains,
delivery to be made after death
The whole transaction has rather grue,
some aspect IT seems shocking thing to sell
amy part Of ones person for post-mortem ex-
animation At first thought We could scarcely
credit the truth OF the story TO our minds
it was absolutely unthnkable that one would
barter ones body for cash. that investigation
might he made after death into a suspected
ahnormaty, But reflection gives somewhat diff
ferent view to the contract
The gift of ones dead body 10 the purposes
Of examination that knowledge might be in
creased would be apbIauded. TO sell ones body
for money for the same purpose is 10 more
revolving, when we consider the matter calmly
II may be less phlanthropic. 1t may indicate
a more utiliarian spirit. Or it may reveal a
pathetic existent OF present need, discountine
future contingencies and realizing in imme-
date cash the value of future asset. But
whatever the motives that determined the con
tract upon the part Of the seller, when think
through To the end of all our orthodox beliefs
We will find that whatever prejudice may exist
against such a transaction Is more of senti
ment than Of reason.
The body is dead IT Is but a form of mat
ter 1t can no more serve the purpose of the
spirit that. once animated it, or the soul that
once governed it. II any circumstance should
give il post mortem value why not ralze upon
that value just you may upon personal prop
erty or real estate? So much seems to dismiss
the idea of real improperly in such a transac-
tion. The further thought that the money real
lied from such sale may minister to immediate
need or may promote worthy causes serves TO
make our judgment of the act ISIS severe And
The final realization that the interests of scen-
t'hc investigation profit by the contract makes
the whole thing iustihabe.