348 NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



poids de marc" l the livre = 7,561 troy grains. The weight 

 above given, reduced to ounces av., = 64-33. 



The weight of the brain of Abercrombie is taken from 

 the original report furnished by Dr. Adam Hunter. 2 The 

 weight of the brain of Kuloff is taken from a full report of 

 the autopsy in the Psychological Journal. 3 The weight of 

 the brain of James Fisk, Jr., was furnished by Dr. Edward 

 T. T. Marsh, Deputy Coroner of New York, who conducted 

 the autopsy. 4 The weight of Spurzheim's brain was taken 

 from the Medico- Qhirurgical Review? 



The report of Daniel "Webster's brain is certainly a curi- 

 osity in scientific literature. In the account .of the autopsy, 

 by Dr. Jeffries, of Boston, the actual weight of the enceph- 

 alon, taken by that most accurate and reliable observer, Dr. 

 Jeffries "Wyman, was 5 3 '5 oz. av. It is stated, however, by 

 Dr. Jeffries, that " the weight of the brain deviated much 

 less from the average than the measurements ; it was en- 

 tirely out of proportion to the unusual dimensions of the 

 cranial cavity. . . . Both serum and lymph, there can be no 

 doubt, encroached upon and occupied the space once filled 

 with cerebral substance. The weight given above, there- 

 fore, cannot be regarded as being equal to the weight of , the. 

 brain in a state of health." To supply this hypothetical de- 

 ficiency in cerebral substance in this remarkable man, Dr. 

 Jeffries, aided by Prof. Treadwell, of Cambridge, makes an 



1 In 1812, by a ministerial decree, the livre was fixed at 500 grammes, in- 

 stead of 489'5 grammes, the equivalent of the livre poids de marc ; but the old 

 weight was generally in use in 1832, and all of the calculations, both for Cuvier 

 and Dupuytren, are from the poids de marc. As far as we can ascertain, the 

 livre of 500 grammes was little used, and should not be taken, unless expressly 

 stated. 



2 Account of the late Dr. Abercrombie. Edinburgh Medical and Surgical 

 Journal, Edinburgh, 1845, vol Ixiii., p. 448. 



3 BURR, Medico-legal Notes on the Case of Edward H. Rulo/. Journal of Psy- 

 chological Medicine, New York, 1871, vol. v., p. 738. 



4 Written communication from Dr. Marsh. 



5 The STcull of Spurzheim. Medico- Chirurgical Review, London, 1836, New 

 Series, vol. xxv. (American Reprint), p. 448. 



