PRELIMINARY NOTE ON THE BRAINS OF NATIVES OF 

 THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS. 



By EDW. ANTHONY SPITZKL\, M.D. 

 {Read April 23, 1908.) 



Physical anthropology, or comparative human morphology, has 

 been largely based upon cranial configuration. Since the days of 

 Camper and Blumenbach, the classification of the human races is 

 based on more conprehensive morphologic foundations, for with 

 cranial morphology as the first criterion, there have been added 

 criteria derived from the entire skeleton, the soft tissues and the 

 brain. The last-mentioned organ has been the least studied because 

 it is usually most difficult to obtain, preserve and study. Never- 

 theless, interest in this subject is manifestly increasing among anato- 

 mists and anthropologists, for they appreciate the fact that there is 

 a pressing need for fruitful research in anthropologic encephalometry 

 among the exotic races, so rapidly becoming impure or even ex- 

 tinct. Many American Indian tribes have disappeared ; the volcanic 

 outbreak in Martinique has wiped out nearly all Caribs. The Aus- 

 tralian natives driven to the desiccated wastes of the interior, many 

 African tribes succumbing in the arid deserts, the Eskimos deci- 

 mated by epidemics of small-pox, measles and pneumonia — all these 

 and many others are dying out and warn us to make haste in record- 

 ing observations upon them while they still exist. 



It has been my good fortune to pursue comparative studies in 

 cerebral morphology based upon the brains of the white race, of 

 Eskimos, Japanese, Chinese, Negroes and Papuans. I am now able 

 to add the brain of a native of the Andaman Islands and one of a 

 native of the Nicobar Islands. For this exceptional privilege I am 

 indebted to the efiforts of Dr. W. W. Keen, whose correspondence 

 with Lord Curzon, then Viceroy of India, opened the way to com- 

 munication with Mr. H. H. Risley, Director of Ethnography for 

 India ; Mr. W. R. H. Merk, Superintendent of Port Blair, and Major 



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