COMPARISON OP MALE AND FEMALE SEXES. 969 



rations of Quetelet, that the full Height of the Male is not generally at- 

 tained until the age of 25 years. At about the age of 50, both Male and 

 Female undergo a diminution of their stature, which continues during the 

 latter part of life. The proportional Weight of the two sexes at different 

 periods, corresponds pretty closely with their height.' Starting from birth, 

 the predominance then exhibited by the Male gradually increases during the 

 first few years; but towards the period of puberty, the proportional weight 

 of the Female increases; and at the age of 12 years, there is no difference 

 between the two sexes in this respect. The weight of the Male, however, 

 then increases much more rapidly than that of the Female, especially be- 

 tween the ages of 15 and 20 years; after the latter period, there is no con- 

 siderable increase on the side of the Male, though his maximum is not at- 

 tained until the age of 40; and there is an absolute diminution on the part 

 of the Female, whose weight remains less during nearly the whole period of 

 childbearing. After the termination of the parturient period, the weight 

 of the Female again undergoes an increase, and its maximum is attained at 

 about, 50. In old age, the weight of both sexes undergoes a diminution in 

 nearly the same degree. The average AVeights of the Male and Female 

 that have attained their full development, are 20 times those of the new-born 

 Infants of the two sexes respectively. The Heights, on the other hand, are 

 about 3 times as great. 1 



806. The chief differences in the Constitution of the two sexes, manifest 

 themselves during the period when the Generative function of each is in its 

 greatest vigor. Many of these distinctions have been already alluded to; 

 but there are others of too great importance to be overlooked ; and these 

 chiefly relate to the Nervous System and its functions. There is no obvious 

 structural difference in the Nervous System of the two sexes (putting aside 

 the local peculiarities of its distribution to the organs of generation), save 

 the inferior size of the Cerebral Hemispheres in the Female. This differ- 

 ence, which is not observed in other parts of the Encephalou, is readily ac- 

 counted for on the principles formerly stated ( 566), when we compare the 

 psychical character of Woman with that of Man ; for there can be no doubt 

 that putting aside the exceptional cases which now and then occur the 

 intellectual powers of Woman are inferior to those of Man. Her Intuitive 

 powers are certainly greater than his ; her perceptions are more acute, her 

 apprehensions quicker ; and she has a remarkable power of interpreting the 

 feelings of others, which gives to her, not only a much more ready sympathy 

 with them, but that facility in guiding her actions so as to be in accordance 

 with them, which we call tad. This tact bears a close correspondence with 

 the unconscious adaptiveness to particular ends, which we see in Instinctive 

 actions. Notwithstanding the superiority of her perceptive faculties, her 

 capability of sustained mental exertion is much less ; and though her views 

 are often peculiarly distinguished by the clearness and decision which result 

 from the strength of her intuitive sense, they are generally deficient in that 

 comprehensiveness which brings the whole case to be judged of, and which is 

 consequently necessary for their stability. With less of volitional power 

 than Man possesses, she has the emotional in a much stronger degree. The 

 emotions, therefore, predominate; and more frequently become the leading 

 springs of action, than they do in Man. By their direct influence upon the 

 bodily frame, they produce changes in the Organic functions, which far sur- 

 pass in degree anything of the same kind that we ordinarily witness in Man ; 

 and they thus not uufrequeutly occasion symptoms of an anomalous kind, 



1 For an excellent treatise on The Stature and Bulk of Man in the British Isles, 

 see John Beddoe, Pamphlet, 1870, pp. 191. 



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