EDITORIALS. 267 
tive purposes. The selection of a common series of cranial 
measurements does not present the practical difficulties that op- 
pose the adoption of the coming international scientific language. 
The number of measurements having a practical ethnic or de- 
scriptive value is less than one hundred; nearly all of these have 
been in use for years, and their relative importanas has been pretty 
accurately determined. The spirit of courtesy and fairness which 
characterizes the true scientist should induce each one to sacrifice 
some of his allegiance to tradition, in order that a system may be 
devised that shall require no explanation, and which shall be as 
accessible to the Russian as to the American. We may be ready to 
accept in this list some measurements having their origin even at 
that elusive and indeterminate point the ophryon, if thereby the 
desired end shall be the sooner reached. 
The number of measurements taken by the French and English is 
so large that the investigator is involved in a mass of calculations 
and tables that require an expenditure of time by no means commen- 
surate with their importance. We recognize the fact that these 
measurements have a certain value, but we think that the principal 
facts regarding the size and proportions of the human cranium can 
be learned from not more than forty measurements and indices ; 
doubtless certain crania will admit of unusual measurements, and a 
short supplementary list may be desirable, but the essential measure- 
ments should be taken in any case.’ The French system is the old- 
est, and the system to be advocated should be based upon the 
Instructions Craniologigue of Broca? The successors of this distin- 
guished anthropologist have improved upon the system as at first 
1 The number of measurements and indices taken by the different schools is 
shown in the following lis 
Broca. . . . . . 84, Sur Les Cranes de la Caverne de Piane Mort. 
Paris, 1879. 
In the Revue d’Anthrop., ser. 2, vol. v, p. 
Topinard states that the number of PaE 
and indices used by Broca in his study of the crania 
of eT Parisians from the Cimitière de 
Ous 
Topinard sa 5) 65 ye Pie Générale, p.979. Paris, 1885. 
Quatrafages. . . + 79, Crania Ethnica, p.9. Paris, 1882. 
Pera aa = Journ. Anthrop. Inst., vol. ix, p. 107. 
rina : . 60, Journ. Anthrop. Inst., vol. xxvi, p. 285. 
Frankfort Aponia 42, Archiv. f. Anthrop., Braunschweig, Bd. xy, s. 1. 
2 Mem. Soc. d’Anthrop., 2d ser., 1875. Tome ii, p. 25. 
