234 CRANIA BRITANNICA. [CHAP. IX.
extent cominonsui-ate with the differences of conformation themselves. Still, we can only recognize
the two parallel series of diversities, we are not able to determine the value of each organic
diflferenee (even its figural value is difficult alwaj's to appreciate) or to fix its physiological influences.
In this work, the diversities in the external conformation of the skulls of the races to
which om- attention has been directed have been delineated and described so as to bring them
out with a distinctness they have never before obtained. The great brachycephalism of one of
these races, the ancient Britons, previously to a great degree unknown, now generally recognized,
has been demonstrated. In the present state of science, the uses of the different parts of the
cerebral structure themselves are not conclusively determined; and it is yet in some measure a
problem whether any of the faculties are in a degree localized, or whether an action of the entire
nervous mass of the brain may not be requisite for the display of each of its functions. There
are numerous facts and observations which appear to show that portions of the brain are allied
to special powers, and particularly that the peripheral or cortical substance of its convolutions
is intimately connected with the higher faculties of the mind *. This external grey substance
of the convolutions constitutes a very large jH-oportion of the cerebral mass. M. Broca estimates
it to rise even to tAvo-thirds of the whole brain, leaving only one-thii-d of the organ to the use of
the sensorial functions t. This -view is entirely independent of " the organography of phrenology,"
although it may not be im]3robable that the study of the latter has very materially promoted
the more correct knowledge of these and other portions of cerebral physiology. In the
midst of much imcertainty. Dr. Morton considered that by determining the absolute mass of
cerebral matter, or what is for this purpose equivalent, the capacity of the skull, he should be
able to compute the intellectual power of different individuals and races. Tiedemann had
previously attempted to use this measure of bulk as a test of mental capacity. But Tiedemann,
misled by his desire to elevate the Negro race, did not arrive at the true interpretation of his
own facts, which, as far as they went, showed the smaller size of the Negro brain i. Morton,
* Desmoullns long ago uttered the proposition :—" Le
nombre et la perfection des facultés intellectuelles dans la série
des espèces, et dans les individus de la même espèce, sont en
proportion de l'étendue des surfaces cérébrales."—Anat. des
Systèmes Nerveux, 1825, vol. ii. p. 606. The extension of
the subject has been laboriously investigated since by many
distinguished anatomists ;—Gratiolet, ' Sur les Plis Cérébraux
de l'homme,' 1854; Rudolph "Wagner, 'Vorstudien zu einer
wissensch. Morphologie und Physiologie des menschl. Gehirns
als Scelenorgan,' 1860 and 1862; to which an Appendix
has just been added by his loving son. Dr. Hermann Wagner,
"Maasbestimmungen der Oberfläche des grossen Gehirns,"
1864. The able discussion, "Sur le volume et la forme du
cerveau," in the Société d'Anthropologie, 1861, ehcited very
fnlly the opinions of Professor Broca and of other physiologists.
(Bull, de la Soc. d'Anthrop., vol. ii.) Dr. Broca has
further treated the curious subject of the localization of organs
and faculties in one of his most lucid memoirs, ' Sur le siège
de la Faculté du Langage articulé, avec deux Observations
d'.\pbémie,' 1861. In this philosophie work, he says, "Il
y a un point qui me paraît à peu près établi par l'anatomie
comparée, par le parallèle anatomique et physiologique des
races humaines, et enfin par la comparaison des variétés individuelles
normales, anormales ou pathologiques des hommes de
même race, savoir, que les facultés cérébrales les plus élevées,
celles qui constituent l'entendement proprement dit, comme le
jugement, la réflexion, les facultés de comparaison et d'abstraction,
ont leur siège dans les circonvolutions frontales,
tandis que les circonvolutions des lobes temporaux, pariétaux et
occipitaux sont affectées aux sentiments, aux penchants et aux
passions. En d'autres termes, il y a dans l'esprit des groupes
de facultés, et dans le cerveau, des groupes de circonvolutions ;
et les faits acquis jusqu'ici à la science permettent d'admettre
que les grandes régions de l'esprit correspondent aux grandes
régions du cerveau. C'est dans ce sens que le principe de localisations
me paraît, sinon rigoureusement démontré, du moins
extrêmement probable."—P. 11.
t Bull. vol. ii. p. 184.
J J. van der Hoeven, " Bijdrageu tot de Natuurlijkc Geschiedenis
van den Negerstam," 1842, Bl. 35. ïlie most complete
refutation of Tiedemanu's extraordinary, though "amiable
errors," is that of Dr. Andrew Combe (Phrenological Journal,
vol. xi. p. 13, 1838). S. T . Siimmerring, who was remarkable
for the accuracy of his observations, arrived at conclusions
quite opposite to those of Tiedemann with respect to the relative
capacity of the skull in the Negro, and the comparative
size of his brain (Ueber die körperliche Verschiedenheit, 1785,
S. 50 u. 67).
CHAP. IX. ] CONCLUSION. 235
relying upon the position that mass of brain is the great and essential element in determining
the intellectual and moral powers of the different races, thought that by averages from a
sufficient number of observations of adult crania of each race, he could obviate individual
peculiarities and obtain adequate data for comparison. He did not separate the sexes, nor take
into his estimate the relative number of each, but expected to compensate for these inequalities
by diffusing them over a suflcient series of individuals. With an adequate number of observations,
he considered that he should attain to correct conclusions. For this purpose, he devoted a
long and active attention to the collection of a museum of skulls of every race and family of man.
In this ho succeeded preeminently, and better than any one who went before him. With such
materials, by immense labour and pains, he produced his great Table of the internal capacities
of the skuUs of a considerable number of the races and families of man. As far as possible, he
endeavoured to overcome the inherent difficulties attending the application of the numerical
method to subjects of natural history*.
Making every aUowance that can justly be required for the essential differences of the
cerebral structure in diverse races and individuals, it is quite true, in general, that mass of brain
is in a direct relation with mental power. Special cases of small and active brains must be
regarded as exceptional. Again, there seems to be no doubt that the development of the anterior
lobe, especially its convolutions, is in immediate relation with the higher manifestations of mind.
These two leading positions may be used as tests of intellectual power. A thii-d, closely allied
Avitli the last, which has received the support of distinguished cerebral physiologists, namely,
that richness of convolutions is connected with the more exalted manifestations of mental force,
we are unable to take into the account in a direct manner ; for we have had no opportunity here
for studying either the brain, or the impressions made by its convolutions on the inner sm-face of
the vault of the cranium, which are only to be perceived in recent skulls. Therefore, beyond
the swelling out of the frontal region and its equable surface, we cannot form any estimate of
the redundancy of the duplications, or of the development of the convolutions. Still it must
be admitted that aU these criteria afford only imperfect and inadequate means for settling and
judging of the mental peculiarities observed among human races. The lowest races have imdersized
and ill-developed brains, narrow and low anterior lobes, manifested in crania of small
capacity, of little elevation, contracted and recedent in the frontal region, with generally a large
amount of osseous matter in then- composition, deposited in comparatively irregular nodular
masses, so as to occasion heavhiess and thickness and rudeness. In this category may be placed
the skulls of AustraUans, almost universaUy. At the other end of the scale is situated a large,
fully expanded cranium, weU-developed in every part, lofty and graceful in its vault—wide,'
capacious, elevated in the frontal region—with all its outlines gently moulded and curved, so as
to produce the impression of beauty. Tlds is the picture of the skull of a man of a European
race, usuaUy that of a person of enlarged capacity; for these material forms, however difficult
to appreciate and to connect with mental manifestations, bear some not very obscure relation of
cause and effect. Between the two extremes here referred to, there are almost innumerable
cranial race-characters, some of which deviate cm-iously in various directions—as, for example, in
remarkable shortness and breadth, and in as remarkable height, frequently conjoined with the
former. It would appear as if the fibrous structure of the cerebral mass had been prolonged
upwards, and grown in this direction, rather than been displayed horizontally and thus peripherieally.
The two extremes are easüy discriminated; not so the innumerable intermediate phases :
• See Morton's latest conclusions on these interesting subjects, 'Types of Jlaukiud,' p. 298, &c.