persons. He is of opinion that there, is a connexion between
the size of the brain and the intellectual capacity of individuals,-
and instances MM. Cuvier and Duhaytien, who had very large
heads, but on this subject it does not appear that he has instituted
any researches.
In comparing the Africans with other races of men in relation
to the capacity of the cranium, by which he estimates the
magnitude o f the brain, M. Tiedemann adopted the following
method of proceeding: 1. He weighed the skull with and without
the under jaw-bone. 2. He then filled the cavity of the-skull
with dry millet-seed, through the foramen oceipitale magnum.
The nkull was then weighed again carefully filled. ■ 3. He
then deducted the weight of the empty skull from that of the
filled one, and thus obtained a measure of the capacity of the
cavity of the cranium.
Tiedemann has given the results of a great number of observations
made on this method. ' Forty-one instances, display
the capacity of the cavity o f th e cranium in e g r ^ s ^ d if - |
ferent races. Seventy-seven similar measurements, of male
European skulls are added, twenty-four of male Asiatics, of the
so termed Caucasian race, twelve of female Europeans, twenty
o f skulls of the Mongolian, and twenty-seven o f the Arne?-
rican race, and forty-three of the Malagar and Polynesian nations,
in which Australians are included. The general result
o f these comparisons is that the cavity o f the skull in the Negro
is generally in no degree smaller than in European and other
humanraces. Tiedemann concludes that “ theopinion of many
naturalists, such as Camper, Soemmering, Cuvier, Lawrence,
and Virey, who maintain thatthe Negro has a smaller brain
than the European, is ill-founded, and “ entirely refuted by
my researches.” He says, “ I look upon Camper’s facial line
and facial angle as very unsatisfactory in determining the capacity
of-the skull, the size of the brain, and the degree of
intellectual power.” . _ - ' ,
. Tiedemann has added to these remarks on the size of the
brain in different Taces some measurements of the medulla
oblongata and spinal chord, from which he concludes that there
* White’s Tr., ubi supra, p. 504.
is no discoverable difference between these parts in the Negro
and the~European,-except any variety that may result from
the different stature of individuals. With respect to other asserted
pointê. of difference, he proves tfyat the nerves of the
Negro, relatively to* the size of the .brain, are not thicker than
those of Europeskisr; that theextemal form of the spinal chord,
the medulla' oMongata, cerebellum, and cerebrum of the
Negro show no important difference from those of the European;
and that no difference- ca» be shown to exist in the inward
structure, and tbef-" arrangement of .the cortical and- medullary
Substance.' The brain of the orang-outangs as well as
that aFvthe chimpanzee, differs prodigiously in sizte, and veiy
considerably in its organization, from the human brain, and
in all the particulars of this difféïehaetthè brain of the Negro is
precisely similar to that of the European. The only point in
which Tiedemann could discern the slightest, resemblance between
thé brains of the Negro hud that of the Simise was in
the arrangement or position o f the gyri and sulci on the surface
of .‘the hemispheres. These gyri and sulci are more numerous
in the brain of the pongo and jchimpanzee ,in the
Hunterian Museum than they are in the human brain;- either
European or African, and they are likewise more regular or
symmetrical. • The corresponding structure appeared, to Tiede-
mann-somewhat mdre symmetrical in the brains of the. Negroes
examined by him than in European brainsrp but it is very probable
that this "slight appearance of resemblance is only an
individual varietyi
It appears, then, that there is no character whatever in the organization
of the brain of the Negro which affords a presumption
of inferior endowment of intellectual or moral faculties.
If it be asserted thatthe African nations are inferior to the rest
of mankind* on the ground of historical facts, and because they
may he thought not to have ’contributed their; share to the advancement
of human arts and; science, we have, in the first place,
the example of the Egyptians to oppose to such a conclusion,
and this will!b e ‘allowed by all to be quite sufficient, if only we
maybe permitted to reckon the Egyptians as a native African
tribe; but thosé who. insist on tracing the Egyptians from
Mount Caucasus, and represent them/ as foreigners in Africa,