118 THE GLANDS REGULATING PERSONALITY 



number of clues to the controlling secretions in the blood and 

 tissues. Whether the forehead is to be broad or narrow, the 

 distance between the eyes, the character of the eyebrows, the 

 shape and size and appearance of the eyes themselves, the mould 

 of the nose and jaws and the peculiarities of the teeth, are all so 

 determined. The skin, in its color, texture, the quantity and dis- 

 tribution of its fatty and other constituents, eruptions and 

 weather reactions, is influenced. Also the mucous membranes, 

 the color and lustre and structure of the hair, as well as its 

 general distribution and development, are hieroglyphics of the 

 endocrine processes below the surface. Whether the muscles are 

 massive or sparse, atrophied or hypertrophied, soft or hard, 

 easily fatigable or not, bespeak conditions in the glandular chain. 

 In short, we must regard the individual as an immensely compli- 

 cated pattern of designs traced by the hormones as the primary 

 etchers of his development. Though it must be admitted that 

 the number of unknown and unsolved relations in the pattern are 

 still enormously great, enough has been established to make 

 possible a rough working analysis of the particular, unique 

 organism placed before us for examination as Mr. Smith, Mrs. 

 Jones, or Miss Smith-Jones. 



What Is the Normal? 



Anthropologists, from the beginning of anthropology, have 

 battled in vain for a satisfactory inclusive definition, or, at least, 

 description of the normal. With the introduction of the biometric 

 method, the goal at last appeared within sight. A cocked hat 

 curve expressing the distribution and range of the normal looks 

 formidable. The attainable turned out a mirage, for the curves 

 construe table by the measurement of traits of a population only 

 proved the truth of the old axiom that all transitions and varia- 

 tions between extremes exist. The Problem of the Normal 

 seemed more elusive than ever. And the best that could be done 

 for the elucidation of its mystery, was to apply and observe the 

 law of averages. 



From the endocrine standpoint, the reason for this becomes 

 clear. The biometric method concerned itself with externals, 

 with, as it were, symptoms. Since these external signs are but 

 manifestations of the inner chemical reactions, of which the 

 internal secretions are the determining reagents, or factors, with 

 permutations and combinations possible in all directions, the 



