250 



CRANIA AMERICANA. 



The zygomatic diameter is the distance, in a right line, between the most 

 prominent points of the zygomae. 



The facial angle^ is ascertained by an instrument of ingenious construction 



* The facial angle, which was first proposed by the learned Professor Camper, is measured in the 

 following manner: a line called the facial line, is drawn from the anterior edge of the upper jaw, (or, 

 if the tooth projects beyond the jaw, from the tooth itself,) to the most prominent part of the forehead, 

 which is usually the space between the superciliary ridges. A second or horizontal line, is drawn 

 through the external opening of the ear (meatus auditorius) till it touches the base of the nostrils, 

 between the terminal roots of the front incisor teeth, and from this point it is still prolonged until it 

 meets with the facial line already described: hence the two lines may meet at, or very near, the nasal 

 spine, or base of the nose ; but in other instances the decussation of the lines occurs at a point 

 considerably anterior to the bone. It is obvious that an angle will be formed where these lines thus 

 intersect each other, and this is the facial angle. For example, notice the annexed wood cut, (No. 1,) 

 which represents the skull of the Cowalitsk already 

 figured in this work, (see Plate 50.) The line A, B, 

 is the facial Hne, extending, as just observed, from the 

 anterior margin of the upper jaw to the most promi- 

 nent part of the os frontis ; the second or horizontal 

 line, is represented between the points C and D, and 

 for the purpose of having a fixed point for its anterior 

 termination, I have uniformly carried it to the nasal 

 spine, above and between the roots of the two front incisor teeth. The point E, where these Unes 

 decussate each other, is the facial angle, which in the present instance will be found to measure about 

 sixty-six degrees.— The second wood cut (No. 2) represents the lines 

 as drawn on a much better formed head, that of a Peruvian Indian, 

 in which the angle at E measures seventy-six degrees. 



The most casual inspection of these diagrams will satisfy any 

 one that the facial angle is no criterion of mental intelHgence; and in 

 justice to Camper we must add that he does not assert it to be so. 

 In fact it chiefly gives the projection of the face in relation to the 

 head, without conveying the least idea of the capacity of the cranium, 

 which is often the same in heads whose diameters are altogether different. The mere obliquity of 

 the teeth contracts the angle; and what is yet more important, the space between the eyes from 

 whence the facial line is drawn, may be very prominent, so as to give an angle of eighty degrees, 

 while the forehead itself retreats so rapidly, that if the facial line were made to touch it, the resulting 

 angle would not perhaps exceed sixty-five degrees. 



"The maximum angle that can be embraced by the facial lines," says Camper, «is 100°: if we 

 advance these lines still further, the head becomes preternaturally large, as in hydrocephalus. But it 

 IS surprising to observe that the most ancient Greek artists have chosen the very maximum of the 

 facial angle, while the best Roman graveurs were satisfied with the angle of 95° 



«I have thus established the two extremes of obliquity in the fadal line," viz: from 70° to 100°. 



