Ruschenberger.] J-Ot/ [April 1, 



" A little man with the same size of head as a big man will (other things 

 being equal) possess more energy. In weight of brain, again, considerable 

 differences exist among men of acknowledged power. The average weight 

 of the male brain in civilized races is about 49 ounces. Cuvier's brain 

 weighed 64 ounces; Abercrombie's and Schiller's, 63 ; De Morgan and 

 Gauss, the mathematicians, 52f and 52 respectively. But Grote, the his- 

 torian, had a brain only three-quarters of an ounce above the average, 

 wliile the brains of Tiedemann, the anatomist, and Hausmann, the min- 

 eralogist, fell 5 and 6 ounces below it. * * * 



"The heaviest known human brain belonged to a Sussex bricklayer, 

 who died of consumption in University College Hospital in 1849. It ex- 

 ceeded 67 ounces and was well proportioned ; while in physical size its 

 owner was not greatly above the average, being 5 feet 9 inches in height 

 and of robust frame. But the man could not read or write, though he 

 was said to have a good memory and to be fond of politics."* 



According to these data size or weight of brain is not a measure of 

 mental capability. 



Dr. Leidy had a handsome forehead, though it was not remarkably 

 high nor broad. Compared with the head, his face was perhaps large. 

 Nearly horizontal, straight brows slightly overhung tranquilly pensive 

 blue eyes, which were not widely separated by a fuil-sized, well-formed 

 nose. His mouth, slightly drooping at the corners, contained a set of fine 

 teeth. The lips were well proportioned and his chin was broad. He wore 

 a full beard and was well crowned with fine hair. While conversing with 

 friends the expression of his face was truly significant of his very amiable 

 disposition. His utterance was distinct and the tone of his voice pursuasive 

 and pleasant, though slightly nasal. A natural and very modest demeanor 

 made him welcome wherever he was. He loved the company of his 

 friends. No member of either the Old Contributorship, of whicli he was a 

 Director, or of the Biological Club, of which he was President, enjoj^ed 

 more their stated dinners; on those occasions his clieerful and instructive 

 conversation, almost always mentioning some fact new to them, gratified 

 his companions.! 



To him controversy and conflict were always repugnant. He preferred 

 to yield at once, rather than contend. For him it was a task to say. No, 

 This feature of his nature at times lessened his administrative efllciency in 



He says, p. 713 : "All other conditions being equal, it is observed also to hold a relation 

 in size to the degree of mental development ; hence the more civilized races and more 

 cnltivated and intelligent people are distinguished by a larger and heavier brain, while 

 the opposite condition exists in the barbarous races and the least cultivated persons." 



* The Insanity of Genius and the General Inequality of the Huvian Faculty, Physiologicalli 

 Conddered. By J. F. Nisbet, author of Marriage and Heredity. Ward & Downey, 12 York 

 street, Covent Garden, London, 1891. 



fThe Biological Club, as a token of its appreciation of Dr. Leidy, had painted a very- 

 satisfactory portrait of liira, which is in the library of Academy of Natural Sciences. 



The College of Physicians of Philadelphia has in its library a portrait, which is a 

 lugubrious likeness, though artistically well painted. 



