5H4 I'RcHjiacsy uk ANrnuopoLOGV in i890. 



II. — BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY. 



This enormous subject, covering; practically the wbole of the structural 

 part of anthropology, is amply represented in a few publications. For 

 titles alone the Index Medicus and the Index Catalogue of the Surgeon- 

 General's library are the best guides accessible to Americans. 



In England this part of the subject is most elaborately worked out 

 in the biological and zoological journals. The Paris Bulletins, the 

 German Arcliiv and Zeitschrift, the Italian Arcliivio, and the Austrian 

 MittheUungen, though covering the entire science, are specially rich 

 and full in biological matters. With the original papers, accounts of 

 meetings, reviews of publications and bibliography there is little more 

 to be desired either for the beginner or for the advanced student. 



Dr. Frank Baker devoted his vice-presidential address before Section H 

 of the American Association to the organs of the human body that point 

 to a past condition much lower than the present; — indications of the 

 pathway by which humanity has climbed from darkness to light, from 

 bestiality to civilization. These organs are of two kinds, those that 

 added or improved and those that are taken away or atrophied. Those 

 specially mentioned are connected with the modifications of the limbs, 

 with the erect posture, and with the segmentation of the body. 



In the hand the special flexor muscle of the thumb is a new element, 

 while the palmaris lougus is in the category of disappearing muscles. 

 The torsion of the humerus and the incurvation of its trochlear surface 

 and the scapular index all show a progressive development both in the 

 individual and in the race. 



The palmar fascia, the epitrochles-anconeus, a process resembling the 

 supra-condyloid foramen of marsupials, the perforation of the olecranon 

 fossa remind of primitive conditions. While the region of the hand and 

 fore arm indicates increase of specialization, the uj^per part of the limb 

 generally testifies to a regression. This principle is illustrated by ex- 

 amples. The hind limbs of apes as compared with the human legs and 

 the acquisition of the erect posture are closely examined. Ui)oii the 

 latter point Dr. Baker summarizes the evidences that the adaptation of 

 man to the erect posture is yet far from complete. 



These resemblances with anthropoid apes are held to indicate not 

 lineal descent, but common ancestry, and the differences in the races of 

 mankind do not justify our separating them on structural grounds. 



In his work on races and peoples Dr. Daniel G. Brinton summarizes 

 the physical characteristics used in classification of mankind: 



Scheme of Principal Physical Elements. 



5 Dolichocephalic.. ..loiij;- skulls. 

 Mesoceplnilic medium skulls. 

 Bracbycephalic broad skulls. 



i Leptorhiue narrow noses. 



Nose N Mcsoihinc medium noses. 



( Platvrhine flat or broad noses. 



