MIND AND BRAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1929, Page 8

MIND AND BRAIN

NEW SCIENTIFIC "LIGHT, NO GREAT MAN HAS EVER HAD A SMALL HEAD. THE BRAIN OF THE GENIUS. Immense progress lias been made in all branches of medical science, yet it is extraordinary that so little is still known of the relation between mind and brain, though 110 other subject is of such far-reaching importance, states a well-known scientist. It would puzzle even experts to define what constitutes a good or a bad head, or when the brain ceases growing. Authorities could be quoted who have stated that the brain ceases full development at three years of age; others who have declared seven is the age; some had said twelve; some thirty; while the truth is probably that the brain never ceases growing so Jong as it is actively exercised. This question of the growth of the brain has been revived by a statement made recently by George Bernard Shaw, who stated that his own head had increased in size within recent years, especially in height, making his forehead more dome-like.

1 can remember, too, a discussion at the British Association for the Advancement of Science about forty years ago, when Mr Gladstone had declared his head had considerably grown, alleged an increase in his cerebral dimensions.

Of course, it might be argued that the increased size in due to thickening of the hones of the skull from age, or else that the scalp has grown more sensitive, necessitating a large hat lor comfort; but those who are accustomed to measure living heads deny these objections. indeed, until a lew years ago, it was held that the size and shape of the skull had no relation whatever to the size anu shape of the brain. It was said that to judge the development of the brain from the development of the skull “was just as reasonable as to determine a person’s digestive capacity by looking at his waistcoat.” Today it is admitted by nearly all anatomists that the skull represents lor all practical purposes a true measure of the dimensions of the brain in all normal individuals, and that the size of the skull increases with the growth of that organ. One must bear in mind that the skull is a living substance made merely for the protection of the brain, and if -it ceases to adapt itself to the growing structure within its cavity serious symptoms follow. It is mainly due to the false belief that the outer form of the skull gives no indication of the shape of the brain that, file observation of living heads has been so long neglected by scientists.

SIZE, AND INTELLIGENCE, It is a mistake, however, to regard size of brain as a measure of intelligence, for animals, too, have brains, <me of them relatively larger than man. Moreover, jt is a common observation that dunces sometimes have large heads, and very clever men small ones. Often a small brain, if well proportioned, is better than a large brain, illustrating the proverb that “The best goods are packed in the smallest bundles.”

I have all my life observed living heads of all sorts and collected portraits of distinguished men living and of the past, and I can confidently assort that no man with, a small head is really great. None such ever originated or led revolutions iii science, letters, religion or government; or In. any way stamped an image of himself on hjs country or age. Such an event would be extraordinary and unnatural as the existence of gigantic; muscular strength in the person of a dwarf. All history testifies this. Every pioneer in any department has had a large head, with predominating frontal region.

Large heads often go with small bodies. The short fellows are often the fellows for work. Thus the host generals and the greatest conquerors were mostly small men. Oliver Cromwell, who towered over his generation, did so only mentally, being lacking in height; while Napoleon Bonaparte, and his great rival, the Duke of Wellington, may fairly he described as tiny men, Napoleon standing about oft l|in in and the Iron Duke heating him in this respect only by about six inches. Nelson, with sft 4in, came midway between the victor and the victim of Waterloo.

As regards literary men, it was once remarked by a writer that “most of us scribblers look best on paper,” which seems to be borne out by the record of the physicial inches of literary men from, all time. Milton was short, the poet Dryden was dumpy, as was also Lord Macaulay. Mrs Carlyle speaks of “poor little Dickens.” However, size of brain alone, at best", can only be a measure of mental power without indicating whether that power lies in strength of intellect, or of emotion, or animal passion. The intellect can he related only to such parts of the brain as are non-existent in the animal or exist only in rudimentary form. Common sense should tell us that this must be so.

Even in mere cranial capacity the highest apes are still far removed from man. '(’he orang and chimpanzee have 2(j and 27.} cubic inches respectively, while for normal man the lowest cranial capacity is 55 cubic inches. The gorilla’s brain weighs 20 ounces and those of the lower apes range from

12 to 16 ounces. But the average weight of the civilised male brain is 41) ounces, of the female 44 ounces. The latter’s weight refers to ordinary women no superior woman’s brain seems ever to have been weighed.

THE. LOFTY FOREHEAD. The frontal lobes of the brain are the scat of the highest intellectual capacities. A man may he big-headed, but if the frontal region is comparatively small, such a man may be little more than, a big animal. On the other hand,, there are men with’ large foreheads possessing little or no intellect. This may be due to inherited deficiency of . brain cells, hut in the majority of cases it arises, from not having stocked the brain with Snformation. Such men possess a capacious hue empty warehouse, of little or no use. ~ ~ To achieve greatness we need not only large heads hut. massive, lofty foreheads. A lofty forehead means, among other things, powdr of imagination. Imgaination enables us to look into the past and see tilings in the making. It sheds light into the darkness of the present and it enables us to look into the future and construct our patterns and lay our tion. Imagination enables us to look by the poet and artist but by the scientist, statesman and business man; indeed, by all men who lay claim to creative ability. t . No one will deny that Mr Gladstone was a man of sti;ong passions and imagination. Mr Lloyd George derives a large measure of his success from the strong power of his emotions and being able to rouse passion ,in , others. It is evident* that he pins his faith to the fact that “the world is, governed not by thought hut by emotion.” And Air Bernard Shaw’s genius lies largely in the ektent of his imagination and originality of thought. Thai is the reason why these men, and all men who have moved the world, were endowed with large heads and large foreheads. They have never ceased learning, even in their advanced years, and, with ever-widening knowledge their brains have never ceased growing.