168 THE HUMAN SPECIES 



The most important point is the large number of cortical 

 ganglion cells, of which about 2,000 millions (approximately 

 I million to the centimetre) are situated on the cortex of the 

 cerebrum, and about 10 millions in that of the cerebellum. 1 



On the authority of several anthropologists (Broca, E. 

 Schmidt and A. Schmidt) there can be no doubt that the 

 great weight of the brain among civilised nations is a direct 

 result of civilisation. Broca examined the skulls of Parisians 

 from the twelfth and the thirteenth centuries and compared 

 them with skulls of the nineteenth century, and states that the 

 capacity has considerably increased in the course of the 

 centuries. E. Schmidt compared skulls of ancient Egyptians 

 with those of modern Egyptians, and obtained what at first 

 sight seems an opposite result, the modern Egyptian showing 

 the smaller capacity. The apparent contradiction is in reality 

 but a further proof of the theory, since the decrease in capacity 

 is to be ascribed to the decay of the Egyptian civilisation. 

 Buschan - extended his investigations to the neolithic skulls of 

 France and the Rhine provinces, and obtained the same results 

 as Broca with respect to the capacity of the skulls ; his research 

 enabled him further to state that the frontal suture remains 

 open in proportion to the increase of capacity following the 

 rise and extent of culture. 



Moreover the brain varies in size among the civilised nations 

 according to class and profession. Buschan gives the four 

 following classes : 



(1) Day-labourers, workmen. 



(2) Mechanics, artisans. 



(3) Tradespeople, clerks, teachers, lower officials. 



(4) Scholars and higher officials. 



Taking the figures obtained by Matiegka (Prague), Buschan 

 reckons that a weight of 1 ,400 gm. is attained : 



In the 1st class in 26*2 % of cases. 

 ,, ., 2nd 42*8 

 3rd ,,48'5 



)> 4^ft " 57 ^ )> 



1 H. Vierordt, loc. cit., p. 44. 



2 Buschan, Archiv fur Rassen- und Gesellschaftsbiologif, i., 5. 



