The Washington times., 1917-01-20
POPULAR MEDICINE
BY DIR. HIRSHBERG
Intelligent Observation of Rules
of Hygiene Will De-
crease Illness.
BY DIR. LEONARD X. HIRsHBERG.

BH DIR. LEONARD II. HIhSHbEHO.
Multitudes of investigators have
appeared in the last six months upon
the moot point of sex differences in
intellect and new facts have been
brought to light by scientists.
Prof. Yerkes and his assistants dis
covered that between the ages of five
and seven boys and girls are about
equal mentally, but that after this
age girls tend to fall below the aver
ages obtained by the boys. Between
eleven and twelve, the girls seem TO
be more attentive and less playful
and thus forge ahead. but after four
teen the girls drop further than ever
below the boys average intellects.
These investigators are fully con-
WINGED that the accurate determina-
tion of the normal minds for the two
sexes must not be limited to two Or
three years, but are to be distributed
over a long period.
Sex Differences Observed.
In his experiment upon 1000 chill
dren up to sixteen, DIR. Terman found
independently the same net results.
Prof. Terman suggests that the fact
that relatively so few, women as COM
pared with men have attained emil
ence may be due to wholly extrane-
Gus things, such as occupations, mar
riage, rearing children, home ,atmos-
pheres, and an affectionate nature
exaggerated by the maternal in
stinct.
Two investigators, H. T. WooleY
and c. r. Fisher, made mental meas
urements and took physical examina-
tions among working children in Gin
cinnati. Their results differ only
slightly from the others. II was
brought to light, for instance, that
above fifteef the boys excel in atten-
ton, rapidity of movement, and quick
thinking, while the girls are steadier
and coordinate their efforts better.
Some other Tests.
In puzzle and memory tests the
boys were found to be far superior to
the girls. This may be due to the
childhood play and mechanical prac-
tices of young boys. Girls, for in
stance, could usually tie a bow-knot
better than boys.
Prof. E. X. Strong gives the results
of an experiment with fragments of
newspaper advertisements. The ad-
veFtisements were first shown to
forty women and to forty men, at the
rate of one each second. The men
and women were students, instructors
and professors.
The result was not conclusive OF
any mental supremacy. but semed to
prove that women by their emotional
temperaments as well as from a pro-
nounced habit of reading advertise
ments have a greater superiority to
| observe and remember details than
do men. They remembered from 81
per cent TO 50 per cent more details
than did the men.
An Oath's Value.
Motion pictures were used by E. G.
Boring to- test any possible intellec-
| ttual differences between men and
women. 4 scene from a photoplay
was presented. The men and women
were not told what was intended. Az
terward they were Unexpectedly test
ed as to reliability of their report, re
liability under oath, accuracy and
range of knowledge. The conclusion
of the investigator was this: There
is evidence that the boys exceed the
girls in range of report, in adherence
to oath, in care OF repetition. With
men and women the differences are
more marked. The greatest difference
occurs in the unwarranted tendency
to take oath. in which the women ex-
coed the men.
"The men exceed the women in
range of report. range of knowledge,
assurance. warranted assurance, as
sured accuracy and reliability OF
| oath"
Prof l. 8. HollinGworth. of Colum-
bia University, made a series of tests
on twenty-five women and twenty-five
men. Speed and accuracy OF associa.
tion, memory, perception, fatigue, and
| ability to learn were all used. The re,
suits, II seems. are nearer the truth,
| for il was found that the women near,
Iy equaled the men in every mental
and motor test made.
tCopyr't. 1917. by Newspaper Feature Service )
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