CAUCASIAN VARIETY. 301 



observation. " It appears," says Vesalius, " that most 

 nations have something peculiar in the form of the head. 

 The crania of tlie Genoese, and, still more remarkably, 

 those of the Greeks and Turks, are completely globular 

 in their form. This shape, Vv^hich they esteem elegant, and 

 well adapted to their practice of enveloping the head in the 

 folds of their turbans, is often produced by the midwives at 

 the solicitation of the mothers *." 



A corresponding statement to this account is given by 

 Baron Asch, in a letter to Blumenbach. He says that 

 the midwives at Constantinople commonly inquire of the 

 mother, after parturition, what form she would like to have 

 given to the head of the child ; and that they generally 

 prefer that which results from a tight circular bandage, as 

 they think that their turbans sit better when the head has 

 that round shape f. 



That the old women should have told such a story, and 

 that the Baron should have believed them, is not surprising ; 

 but it seems to me very extraordinary that a physiologist, 

 and one well acquainted with nature, should have given 

 credit to this old wife's tale. A single glance at his own 

 engraving of this beautiful head, at the symmetrical and 

 elegant formation of the whole fabric, the nice correspon- 

 dence and adjustment of all parts, the perfect harmony 

 between the cranium and face, and in all the details of each, 

 demonstrate most unequivocally that it is a natural forma- 

 tion, and a very fine work of nature too. There is not the 

 minutest vestige of artificial impression : and I can have no 

 hesitation in asserting the impossibility of inducins: by 

 bandage, pressure, or artifice of any kind, such a form on 

 a head of a different original configuration. 



In the passage" already quoted, Vesalius goes on to ob- 

 serve, " that the Germans had generally a flattened occiput 

 and broad head, because the children are always laid on their 

 backs in the cradles ; and that the Belgians have a more 



* De Corporis Humani Fabricn ; p. 23. cd.of 1555. 

 + Bi.iTMENB-vcH, Dec. i. p. in. 



