1880.] The Height and Span of the Japanese . 103 
almost be called the “ os Japonicum.” We know of no 
observations that connect this cranial peculiarity with the 
type of face to which it belonged during life ; but if, as Mrs. 
Ayrton thinks, the Malay, Chinese, and Aino types can in the 
modern Japanese be detected by practice and attentive ob- 
servation, it might be possible, and would be most interesting, 
to ascertain to which national element might be attributed 
a peculiarity which so careful an observer as Hilgendorf 
considers so indubitable a characteristic of such a large 
portion of the people of Japan. 
This thesis of Mrs. Chaplin Ayrton brings us back to the 
history of the attempt made by women during the last ten 
years to obtain a higher education. In 1869 the University 
of Edinburgh opened its matriculation examination to 
women as well as to men, and five ladies passed this exam- 
ination, and became each a “ Civis Edinensis.” But to 
pass the various examinations at the University of Edin- 
burgh, not only is a certain standard of knowledge neces- 
sary, but the candidate must produce certificates of having 
attended certain courses of lectures within the walls of the 
College. Joint classes of men and women were, however, 
specially forbidden by the Faculty, and separated courses 
for so few women were unattainable. Hence after a four 
years’ residence — during which the five and some other 
girls who had now joined them had, in open competition 
with the men students, obtained prizes and scholarships, 
not only at the University, but also at the Royal College of 
Surgeons, Edinburgh — the small band of women dispersed, 
many with their well-earned laurels, but all without the 
much-coveted but unattainable degree. One of them, the 
writer of the thesis we are reviewing, went as a pioneer to 
Paris, to see whether there she could obtain the medical 
education denied her in her own country. In recognition 
of her four years’ academical course at the University of 
Edinburgh, the Paris Faculty awarded her the honorary 
degrees of “ Bachelier es Sciences ” and “ Bachelier es 
Lettres,” and allowed her to commence the complete course, 
which, after her subsequently passing the necessary seven 
examinations, has now been concluded by the award of 
the degree of Doctor of Medicine on her presenting and 
sustaining her thesis. 
