46o M E M O I R S ^/ /;5^ 
of 25 or 25, and fhould there be found a head ftill larger, 28 or 
29 inches in ambit (which for the reafons abovementioned, has 
fcarce or ever happened, unlefs where the proportion of the other 
parts of the body were luch as neceflarily required it) fuch a one 
would be really wonderful, and counted monftrous^ yet the cir- 
cunnference of the head, of which this large forehead tone was a 
part, ib far exceeded the largeft of thefe meafures, that, as the 
Dr. computed its dimenfions, when it was entire and covered with 
the hairy Icalp, it was about 44 inches round j and therefore mufl: 
have had a body belonging to it, that bore a proper proportion to 
this Ipacious circumference : Nor does the Dr. apprehend fo great 
aftature as this in a human body, tho' indeed it be extraordinary, 
any way ablurd or repugnant to the courfe of nature; but rather, 
if duly weighed, very conformable to a certain anamolous method 
fhe apparently efieds Ibmetimes in her productions; Thus 
we cannot but obferve in the vegetable kingdom, that Ibme are 
of the dwarf-kind, whilft others arife to fo ftupendious a growth, 
that they more than double the bulk even of fuch as are erteemed 
large in the fame tribe ; and amongft animals, if we compare 
that fmall low breed of race-horfes from the Jj/e of Man^ ufually 
called Mank's horfes, to that large breed they have in Northamp- 
tonpire in England^ or in the bifhoprick of Liege in Flanders , 
we may properly enough efteem thefe a Ibrt of gigantic horfes 5 
and the lame thing may be faid of the Inp wolf dog, of the 
grey-hound kind, which is of a beautiful and large make, far 
furpafling the common grey-hounds. 
That nature takes the fame uncertain meafures in the generation 
of mankind, the Dr. thinks, is not lels apparent 5 thus the Zap- 
landers are remarkable for their low ilature j and it is certain, 
there are, and have been dwarfs in all ages and countries, and 
fome of them of a very extraordinary fmall fize of body, not 
above 50 inches in height, and fome not fo high ^ now (jnce na- 
tural caufes operate fo as to produce human creatures, partaking 
of all properties common to the fpecies, and of Co fmall a model, 
as to fall Short even of half the common ftandard, the Dr. cannot 
think it unreafbnable to imagine that the fame natural caules may 
fometimes a6t in the other extreme likewife. 
There is a manifeft alliance and congruity obfervable in nature, 
between the flature of man's body, and his age during the rime 
of his growth 5 and as 57 feet may well be eiteemcd the moft 
fettled and ordinary degree of height in a man f fo about 70 
years may juftly be allowed the moft common period of his age 5 
yet daily experience and obfervation acquaint us with thofe that 
vafilv 
