PREFATORY NOTE ix 



craniology than as a mere criterion of race. As such, he did not esteem it 

 highly ; but he saw in the investigation of the nutritive, psychical, cultural, and 

 morbid processes which alter the cranial contours admirable illustrations of 

 those profound forces which shape and mould life-forms everywhere, and are 

 the underlying momenta of all morphology, whether of plants or of animals. 

 In this loftier sense craniology takes just rank among the great and leading 

 subjects of scientific investigation. 



In conclusion, some reference should be made to the novel graphic 

 method which Dr. Allen devised, and which is published for the first time in 

 this memoir. He called it the " terrace" method, and points out its superior 

 advantages over the graphic system of comparison by curves. Its excellence 

 for this and allied purposes will be obvious to the student at a glance. 



D. G. BRINTON, M.D. 



