THE CEREBROI IX DIFFEKEXT KACES, ETC. 349 



approximative calculation, based upon the cranial capacity, 

 the specific gravity of the brain (according to Cruveilhier, 

 and not the actual specific gravity of the brain examined), 

 and arrives at the conclusion that " Mr. Webster's brain will 

 be found to rank among those whose brains are generally 

 cited as instances of remarkable size." The brain of Cuvicr 

 is then given as weighing 64J oz. ; Webster, 63f pz. ; and 

 Abercrombie, 63 oz. It is impossible to avoid the suspicion, 

 in reading this report, that an attempt is made to make the 

 weight of the brain accord with the acknowledged remark- 

 able intellectual power of Mr. Webster, as well as the un- 

 usual cranial capacity. 1 



The account of Dupuytren's brain, the weight of which 

 is often misquoted by authors, is taken from the official re- 

 port of the autopsy, published in the Revue medicate. The 

 encephalon weighed 2 livres, 14 onces. Taking this z&poids 

 de marc, the weight is 49'68 oz. av. 3 



The other weights given in the table are taken from 

 Lelut 3 and Wagner. 4 



A careful study of the weights given in the preceding 

 table shows the impossibility of applying to individuals an 

 absolute rule that the greatest brain-power is connected with 

 the greatest amount of brain-substance. The men of acknowl- 

 edged intellectual ability in the table are, Cuvier, Abercrom- 

 bie, Spurzheim, Webster, Dupuytren, and those cited by 

 Wagner as celebrated mathematicians, professors, etc. Cu- 

 vier and Abercrombie stand at the head of the list, as re- 

 gards the weight of the brain ; but above Webster and 

 Dupuytren, are Ruloff, Fisk, an idiot, and a common labor- 

 er. Far down in the list, is a celebrated mineralogist, whose 

 brain, is at least six ounces below the average. The ad- 



1 JOHN JEFFRIES, An Account of the last Illness of the late Honourable Daniel 

 Webster, American Journal of the Medical Sciences, Philadelphia, 1853, Xe\v 

 Series, vol. xxv., p. 117, et seq. 



% CRUVEILHIER, Hcssox, BOUILLAUD, Froces-verbal de Touverture du corps df 

 M. Dupuytren. Revue medicale^ Paris, 1835, tome i., p. 287. 



3 Loc. cit. 4 Loc. cit. 



