Nov. 5, 1885J 



NA TURE 



measurements, and its characters — a most important part 

 of the work, occupying ten chapters. In the limited space 

 at our disposal it is impossible to enter into an examina- 

 tion of this part of the work adequate to its importance. 

 When it is studied in conjunction with Broca's " In- 

 structions Craniologiques," the results of more extended 

 researches on a larger amount of material and more 

 matured views are observable. Many measurements 

 recommended by Broca in his work published in 1876 

 were abandoned by him before his death or delegated to 

 a place of secondary importance. If any exception can 

 be taken to this part of Prof. Topinard's work it is that it 

 is too much an exposition of Broca's views to the exclusion 

 of those of the author. Broca's methods are strictly 

 adhered to in some instances where more independent 

 consideration with knowledge acquired since his death 

 might have resulted in a modification of the opinions 

 expressed regarding them. 



After discussing the general development of the skull 

 and the relations between the configuration of the exterior 

 of the cranium and of the brain, the measurements of the 

 skull are considered. The skull is divided into a cranial 

 and a facial portion, and the measurements of each are 

 detailed and their relative importance pointed out. The 

 measurements of the cranial portion recommended and 

 the method of making them are those usually adopted ; 

 those of the facial portion, however, will give rise to some 

 discussion. The ophryon of Broca is shown to be some- 

 what unsatisfactory in its determination ; Prof. Topinard 

 with much pains shows that a better point is the super- 

 cilliary point, which corresponds to the most anterior part 

 of the brain, and is situated in the mesial line immediately 

 above the glabella on the level of aline drawn horizontally 

 above the supercilliary ridges. It seems to us absurd to 

 give a second name to a point so closely corresponding 

 to the ophryon, and we would consequently recommend 

 that the definition of the " point intersourcilier " should 

 be considered only as an amendment of Broca's definition 

 of the ophryon. Natural or pathological and artificial 

 deformities of the cranium and their effect on the brain 

 are very fully and ably considered and illustrated by 

 woodcuts. The vexed question of the proper plane of 

 orientation of the skull receives due consideration, and 

 the condyloalveolar plane, which was determined by 

 Broca after much research, is recommended as the best 

 and simplest. Of all the positions proposed we also con. 

 sider this the best, and hope to see it universally adopted. 

 From the skull in this position the prognathism of the 

 several parts of the face is easily determined by means of 

 a vertical equerry and a small triangular one. Prof. 

 Topinard finds that the prognathism which is most im- 

 portant in distinguishing race characters is the alveolo- 

 subspinal, and he figures five different typical modifica- 

 tions of the form of the face in this region. In his 

 remarks on Prof. Flower's method of indicating pro- 

 gnathism we think Prof. Topinard has misunderstood 

 the object of selecting the basio-nasial line as the 

 standard of comparison. This line is specially chosen as 

 being as nearly as possible the primary line of develop- 

 ment of the skull, and because it is more constant than 

 perhaps any other measurement of the skull. By means 

 of the indices measurements from the basion to the alveolar 

 point, or to the sub-nasal spine, with the basio-nasial 



radius, the relative prominence of the various parts of the 

 face can be easily expressed, and compared in different 

 races. Though Prof. Topinard's method is perhaps the 

 more strictly correct one, that of Prof Flower has the advan- 

 tage in being the more practical, from its being simpler. 



We may here remark regarding certain measurements 

 recommended by Prof. Topinard between the occipital 

 point and various points on the face, with the object of 

 indicating its profile outline, that we consider it would be 

 preferable if the basion was selected as the starting point 

 for them, instead of the occipital point, on account of the 

 former being much more fi.xed than the latter. The rela- 

 tive proportion which these radii bear to one another 

 according as the occipital point is situated high up or low 

 down on the occipital bone is very great ; indeed so much 

 so as to render their indices almost valueless for purposes 

 of comparison. This fact has probably been overlooked 

 by Prof. Topinard in his desire to obtain a method of 

 measuring the skull, which would be applicable also to 

 the head of the living person. 



In treating of the facial index. Prof, Topinard adheres 

 to Broca's method of measuring the length of the face 

 from the ophryon. This point we consider very unsatis- 

 factory, as two observers will seldom place it at exactly 

 the same spot. The facial height is best measured from 

 the nasion, and we prefer the facial index of Kollmann to 

 that of Broca. The lines of contour of the face are valu- 

 able in demonstrating the relative proportions of the 

 upper and lower parts of the face to the maximum or 

 bizygomatic width, and supplement the facial indices. 



The number of measurements of the mandible have 

 been much reduced by Prof. Topinard, and it is studied 

 more in connection with the skull, as it should be, than as 

 a mere isolated bone. 



Chapter XXVII. contains a useful /v.f/cwt' of the various 

 systems of measurements of the skull employed in 

 Germany and England, a table of the measurements con- 

 sidered by the author to be of prime importance, and a 

 more extended list to be used in making more minute 

 researches. The method of orientation of the skull and 

 of making measurements in relation thereto, advocated 

 by the Frankfort agreement, is very justly condemned, 

 but in an unoftensive and truly scientific spirit. 



The last chapters of the work treat of the characters of 

 the trunk and extremities, and contain valuable tables of 

 the proportions of these parts of the body in different 

 races. Throughout the work the characters in the living 

 subject are carefully considered side by side with those of 

 the skeleton, which is of great practical value not only to 

 the anthropologist alone but to artists and others wishing 

 to make themselves acquainted with the subject of human 

 morphology. 



The work concludes with a carefully drawn up table of 

 directions and measurements of the body for the use of 

 travellers, which will doubtless prove very valuable, and 

 we hope will be the means of bringing us more exact 

 information regarding the physical characters of many 

 races yet imperfectly described. 



The work is one in every respect worthy of the author, 

 and cannot fail of being highly appreciated by anthro- 

 pologists everywhere. We hope the time may not be far 

 distant when the other volumes promised will be in our 

 hands. J. G. Garson 



