ON THE BRAINS OF TWO IDIOTS OF EUROPEAN DESCENT. 
507 
entire encephalon, as found by Dr. Boyd, was 32-5 oz.; but then the minimum stature 
in 148 women at the same period of life was only 4 feet 6 inches; whilst the average 
weight of the encephalon, in the same groups of individuals, was 42-96 oz., and the average 
height 5 feet 1^ inch. Deducting the odd 2-96 oz. for the 1^ inch over 5 feet, which is 
more than enough, the European female brain at that stature, and between 60 and 70 
years of age, would weigh 40 oz. ; or, again, by adding 7*5 oz. to the minimum weight 
for the difference between the minimum height and that of the Bushwoman, which 
would be about a proper allowance, we should again obtain a European average of 
40 oz. for the brain of a female measuring 5 feet at the above-named age ; whilst the 
weight of the Bushwoman’s brain, including the membranes, was probably, as shown, 
not more than 31*5 oz. 
Considering, therefore, on the one hand, the stature of the Bushwoman, and allowing, 
on the other, for her advanced age (the former justifying the expectation of a large 
brain, the latter of some comparative waste in that organ), the safe general conclusion 
is that her entire encephalon was, for her height, decidedly small. 
In the absence of positive information, it is impossible to do more than speculate 
on the ratio between the weight of the entire brain and the body in the Bushwoman ; 
but, considering her height, 90 lbs. would not be an exaggerated estimate for the latter 
quantity in health. The ratio in that case would be 1 to 45 ; whereas the mean pro- 
portions usually given for the European, dying from a sudden cause, are as 1 to 37. 
The weight of the preserved encephalon being, as already stated, 21*77 oz., the left 
half of the preserved cerebellum weighed 1*22 oz., and the left half of the pons and 
medulla oblongata *25 oz. Doubling these halves, we have 2*44 oz. for the total weight 
of the preserved cerebellum, and -5 for the total weight of the preserved pons and 
medulla oblongata. Their joint weights, 2-94 oz., being deducted from the weight of 
the preserved encephalon above mentioned, gives 18*83 oz. for the total weight of the 
cerebrum. On these data, the weight of the cerebrum to the cerebellum is as 7*7 to 1. 
In the adult female European, according to Dr. Reid, the average ratio is 8*25 to 1; but 
by Dr. Boyd’s Tables it is, between 60 and 70 years of age, also 7*7 to 1. 
The actual weights above given, being increased in the proportion of 17 to 24, to 
allow for the loss by maceration in spirit, we arrive at a total weight of 3*44 oz. for the 
recent cerebellum, and of *7 oz. for the recent pons and medulla oblongata; and lastly, 
by deducting their joint weight, viz. 4*14 oz. from 30*75 oz., the estimated weight of the 
entire fresh encephalon, we have 26*61 oz. as the weight of the recent cerebrum. 
Distributing the estimated weight of the membranes in relative quantities, we obtain 
27*25 for the recent cerebrum, 3*45 for the cerebellum, and *8 for the pons and medulla 
oblongata, enveloped in their respective shares of membranes, making, as above shown, 
31*5 oz. for the entire encephalon. The average weights of the same parts in 134 Euro- 
pean females, between the ages of 60 and 70, and measuring 5 feet 1 \ inch high, 
according to Dr. Boyd, are 37*13 oz. for the cerebrum, 4*68 for the cerebellum, and *83 
for the pons and medulla oblongata, making 42*64 oz. for the entire encephalon. 
