STUDY OF BRAINS OF SIX EMINENT SCIENTISTS AND SCHOLARS. 243 



review in Dr. Henry C. Chapman's memoir in the Proceedings of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia of 1891. 



It is indeed doubtful if any great character of history was so simple, so absolutely 

 uninfluenced by honors, so unconceited, so just or so kindl}' as was Joseph Leidy. 

 He was not only modest, but noticeably unobtrusive, though far from being a recluse. 

 From the ordinary standpoint Dr. Leidy's life might be regarded as uneventful, prob- 

 ably because of his steadfast and unselfish devotion to the study of nature. He was 

 never dogmatic or assertive even in those things that were indisputable. He sunk his 

 personality in his science; a retrospect of his life reveals a long vista of achievements 

 in which not a trace of self is perceptible ; a long and useful career unsullied b}' a 

 stain and characterized as much by its sweetness, simplicity and goodness as by its 

 great mental achievements. Not only was he universally honored, respected and 

 loved in life, but his fame as America's greatest naturalist will long endure after his 

 death. 



"... The points of pathological interest were the 'presence of a hemorrhagic 

 pachymeningitis on the right side and an unusual hardness (atheroma) of the blood- 

 vessels at the base. ..." ^^^^^^ j^^ Leidy, Jr.) 



The following note in the handwriting of J. A. Ryder, the preparator, accom- 

 panied the specimen : 



"Brain of Professor Joseph Leidy, M.D. Removed May 1, 1891. Placed in 

 refrigerator in Miiller's fluid May 1, 1891. Ice kept in refrigerator till May 22. 

 Kept in Miiller's fluid at ordinary temperature from May 22 to June 10, 1891. 

 Washed in water, June 10, to remove excess of Miiller's and washings repeated till 

 the 15th of June. Placed in 70 per cent, alcohol, June 15, 1891. 



J. A. Ryder, 



Custodian. 



The weight of the fresh encephalon was reported to have been 45.5 oz. (Troy) by 

 Professor Harrison Allen, wlio removed and weighed the brain. The brain of Dr. 

 Philip Leidy, who died within 24 hours of Joseph, was also reported to have weighed 

 45.5 oz. (Troy) by Dr. Dercum who used the same scales and weights. The writer 

 feels confident that the figure for Dr. Philip Leidy's brain-weight is correct, but is 

 inclined to wholly reject the figure as given by Dr. Allen for the brain- weight of 

 Joseph Leidy. Dr. Allen was much attached to Dr. Joseph Leidy and during the 

 autopsy is said to have been very much affected and noticeably nervous. Dr. Dercum, 

 who was present at the time, also thinks that Dr. Allen made an error in recording 

 the brain-weight as cited. 



