2M PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



serves to be recorded ; but the question presents itself, What is its 

 significance and importance? which introduces necessarily the larger 

 question, What is the significance of the convolutions ? It has long 

 been believed that the weight of the brain, and the complexity of the 

 convolutions, are in direct ratio to the intellectual power of the indi- 

 vidual ; but of late statistics have gone far to overthrow the former 

 of these doctrines, and to weaken belief in the latter. The series 

 of weights of nearly a thousand brains tabulated by Wagner, and the 

 list of weights of well-known men given by Flint, seem to show that 

 weight is of but little importance ; and the theory of the convolutions 

 rests chiefly on the fact that the brains of idiots are but slightly 

 developed. Certain is it that we have not the data to establish the 

 theory. 



A difliculty, however, which has, we think, been very much over- 

 looked, but which nevertheless lies at the root of the whole matter, is 

 that we are dealing with words that convey no definite idea. We say 

 that a heavy brain accompanies intellect, intelligence, a gifted mind, but 

 have merely the vaguest idea what we mean by it. Almost if not quite 

 all truly distinguished men are noted for their ability in some special 

 direction, often counterbalanced by marked weaknesses in others. The 

 ability of the mathematician, the musical composer, the novelist, the 

 politician, the actor, the strategist is in each case diflTerent, and we are 

 not certain in which it is the highest. We are also ignorant, in spite 

 of the labor expended on the subject, how much the size of the brain 

 depends on that of the body, and whether active muscular exercise, 

 which enlarges the muscles, may not, pari passu, enlarge the central 

 nervous organs. Another point to be considered is the effect of oppor- 

 tunity, not only in making merit known, but, what is far more impor- 

 tant, in developing it. This question, indeed, is of primary importance : 

 for if it be true that the brain has very nearly reached its anatomical 

 perfection at the age of eight years, and increases but slightly up to 

 twenty, and but very slightly subsequently (jMarsliall), and if it be 

 true that its shape or size is any index of the mind, it must be an 

 index of the mind in the rough, or, to speak more accurately, of its 

 possibilities ; for it certainly has not gained its full strength at twenty. 

 Bad habits or want of education may not only prevent, an originally 

 good mind from doing itself justice, but may make it incapable of even 

 ordinarily good work ; yet there is no reason to suppose that the weight 

 or outline of the brain would be modified. 



Mr. W.'s brain can hardly be quoted in support of existing theories. 

 If the general estimate of his abilities be just, — as we believe it is, — 



