Psj/rhofof/irfU fnt'estujatioim 229 



time WHS a lx)ld j)roposal, that all anthropologists should turn for a time 

 from physical antnro[)ology and study prevalent types of human character 

 and temperament. lie points out how it hius now become possible to in<|uire 

 by exact measurement into certain fundumentul (jualities of the mind; the 

 new science of what has been termed Psychophysics shows that the ditt'erence 

 in the mental (|ualitit's of man and man admits of being gauged by a suiUible 

 st^ale. Gallon further suggested that mental cpiiilities such an 'personal 

 equation' and its basis in reaction time should be measured with a view of 

 correlating them witli temperament and external physical characters. Among 

 other things he suggests the clas.sification of individuals by the time they 

 occupy in forming a judgment. He notes that the interval of time between 

 the perceptit)n of a signal and the recording of it by tapping a key, is 

 modified when there are alternative signals A and B, and the recording of A 

 is to be done by the right and of B by the left hand. An interval is required 

 to discrimiiiute between the signals an<l between the hands. In such a way 

 the individual time in forming a judgment can 1^ to .some extent measured. 

 Galton compares the advance of that day in the measurement of mental 

 characters with the numerical moii.snrement by the thermometer of heat and 

 cold in the days of old. As Dr John Beale wrote to Boyle in 16G3: 



"If we can discourse of heat and cold in their several degrees ho aa we niay signify the same 

 intelligibly... it is more than our forefathers have taught us to do hitherto." 



The pity is that so much psychometric apparatus is far more expensive 

 than thermometers! If we can, however, obtain a group with differentiated 

 mental characters, how shall we ascertain the external physical features 

 most conunonly associated with its members? And here Galton turns, I 

 think for the first time, to photography for lussistance. 



He suggests, in the first place, a standard form of photography in which 

 by the aid of three mirrors, a direct three-quarter face, and reflected profile, 

 full-face and top of head as()ects would be ootained on the same plate at the 

 same time. Unfortunately he does not descrilje adequately the positions of 

 these mirrors, and I have been imable to determine them. I can get by 

 reflection norma facia/is, nornut lateralis and norma verticalis (as they are 

 termed in craniometry), but then the direct aspect appears to be a tnree- 

 quarter occipital view ! (lalton next makes what I believe is his fii-st 

 announcement tis to composite photography ; tliat is the method he proposes 

 of ascertaining whether those with differentiated mental characters have 

 differentiated physical features. He writes: 



"Having obtainotl dniwings or photogniphs of several p<>rsons alike in rao.st respectii but 

 differing in minor detjiiis, what sure nietluxl is there of extracting the typical characteristics 

 from them ( I may mention a plan which had ocourreil both to Mr Herbert Spencer and myself, 

 the principle of which is to su(H?rinipo.se optically the various drawings and to accept the 

 aggregate result. Mr Spencer suggestetl to me in conversation that the drawings reduced to 

 the same scale might be traced on separate pieces of transjtarent paper and secured one upon 



sweeter my temjx'r is likely to l>e. — He is such a choice sfiecinien of the Snob scientific." X. is 

 dead now, without leaving his impress on science, but the term Huxley found in his wrath to 

 characterise the young gentleman is perhaps worthy of preservation. 



