Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-14
Magic and Mystery of Brain
Garrett r. ssrviss.

DOTH size and quality are 10 be considered In
ID comparison with the lower animals mans brain
not only much larger In proportion to his
bodily size and weight but quality is incomparaby
superior
BY superiority Of quality IL here meant greater
eonpexity Of organization greater weight per cubic
men and more complete coordination OF parts and
The nerve cells themselves individually considered
may not vary much in quality. but when they are
chained together in vast numbers and organized 10
act In unison they like a trained army in con-
trast with scattered rabble
Onnumbered millions OF cells constitute the brain
OF man. all these cells being grouped into ganglions
tpuncheO and connected by many thousand nerve
oers which might be lkened 90 wires These
connect the brain with outer world ana the outer
world with the brain. As DR. Smith Ely Jelllffe
mas said the human brain Is Of the most remark
able 'switehsoards' made
To make complete and detailed man, or N.
brain IL one of the cherished ambitions OF physioo-
slsts' who, while rejecting the fanciful assumptions
OF phrenologists concerning the Significance or
pumps. nevertheless find that certain parts OF the
brain are specially associated with certain mental
characteristics. and particularly with motor activities
IKE tne movement Of muscles, and the perception OF
sense impressions. such sight and sound
There are, for instance. recognized speech CEN
ters' In the brain. injury which may parayze the
memory OF words or the power to utter them
The famous gray matter Is that portion OF the
brain which consists principally Of cells while the
white matter is composed mainly OF the connect-
ing and communicating fbers. Mental power. what
ever we may mean by that appears to depend pri.
mary upon the gray matter stu it could not mani.
fest Itself without tho brous connections for lack
ing them, the cells would be like so many dscon-
nected batteries.
The gray matter is congregated in the outer mart,
or cortex. Of the brain. and the entire organ Is
composed OF complicated system OF Iobes ana deem
hssures, by means OF which a greater amount OF
surface Il furnished TO be occupied by the crowdins
cells. In the brains Of men who have been notable
for mental power 1t has been found that the depth
and number OF the convolutions affording more room
Tor the spread OF the gray matter particularly
large.
II is doubtful whether any certain index OF tho
mental capacity Of an individual be found in tho
size or shape Of the head. The bones OF the skull
vary much In thickness and peculiar outlines may DO
produced by accidental pressure in infancy or may
arise from other which no connection with
the quality OF the brain within.
IL is however, true that below a certain size and
weght the brain is unable TO as an instrument
Of high mentality Idiots possess brains far below
the human average
Within certain limlts too the shape OF the skull
the BRAIN Low, fat. retreating skulls are char
acterstic Of the lowest types OF early mankind ana
yet striking exceptions occur.
For instance. the skull of ST. Mansuy who had
at least intelligence enough to become the bshop OF
foul. in the fourth century. even more flat ana
british in outline than that OF the celebrated pro-
historic Neanderthal SKULL. while the great Scot
tish hero. Robert Bruce. had OF the same type
But we know nothing OF tho brains that ST. Mansuy
and Bruce carried inside their unpromisng skulls
The scientific test OF brain capacity is weight
and that cannot be applied 10 living man. Tho
average weight has been. somewhat svariousy est
mated and II varies also p,ong Gdlffefent races II
might be set down at fifty ounces. for a generous
estimate M Broca fixed thirty-seven ounces as the
lower limit. below which, he thought the brain could
not properly perform its functions.a
But the female brain would appear TO have GER
tain innate superiority for NJ. sets its lower
limit five ounces below that for man-which is GER
tainly good word fSr the womenl
II Is because OF the impossbility of ascertaininE
the weight OF living brains that Prof wilder OF Cor.
nell university. has founded his OF brains in
wiling persons who wish TO advance science to De-
dueath their brains to him. In order that they may
be duly weighed ana judged.
Many great men have had both large heads ana
heavy brains. and others nave not Webster wore
eight-inch hat; Emersons genius was covered with
a hat OF 81 inches. II IL the inside that tells