been normal ? Is it ignorance, stupidity or culpable neglect on the
part of the State ?
" A ciorious-looking woman," aged 74, was recently sent to penal
servitude for 3 years for stealing a pair of shoes. The detective
110 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
Alcohol Alcohol is the most powerful brain poison we have in use.
—A Brain j j^ave referred to its influence on the race by heredity, but
Poison . . . .
this seems a fitting place to give caution to young people
who have a healthy desire as to their future prosperity. Many
young men imbibe not only wine but also spirits, and think
the smaU quantities they take can do no harm. It is not a
question of no damage to the brain, but the ratio of injury
to other cells which are awaiting development. It simply
means that young people who indulge deprive themselves
of attaining their fullest mental powers.
In every walk of hfe the young should aim at success and
rising to a higher plane, which becomes impossible with a
weakened or impaired brain, for it is just this slight damage
which takes off the keen edge of the intellect, and destroys
the power and finer perceptions. A distinguished physio-
logical chemist says that, if he has any dehcate work to do,
his mental machinery is unrehable if he partake even of lager
beer.
We must also realize that this damaged condition of the
brain is often the cause of the dethronement of the Ego. The
brain being the most delicate part of the human machinery,
it is necessarily unstable, and the more likely to suffer injury,
and it is only its great recuperative power which saves us
from disaster.
As the more recently evolved or highest brain cells in the
association areas ^ are the first to suffer, so patients who
have had long, wearing iUnesses, and have little recuperative
power or are in the early stages of insanity, or whose neurons
are unstable through weakened control, occasionally come
within the grip of the law. When this happens in respectable
described her as a dangerous West-End thief. To get such a character
at the age of 74 showed a rather valuable personality hidden somewhere
but probably distorted by circiimstances, as in 20 years she had been
convicted 10 times for shoplifting. Though she had £200 in the
savings bank, the stolen property at home showed 22 gloves, 13
pairs of stockings, 84 separate ribbons, 7 lace scarves, and endless
other things. If she had been an American it would have been called
kleptomania.
^ Dr. Bolton has shown that the association areas are the first to
disintegrate microscopically, and Dr. Watson has demonstrated the
same macroscopically. Both facts were discovered independently,
which gives great value to the work.
INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT ON THE BRAIN 111
families it causes a great shock, and is just a case where
Medicine and Law should fraternize in order to relabel
the supposed criminal as a " mental invahd."
In many of these cases juries wiU not admit mental decay Law and
because they see no signs of physical decay, as if one could ^^^^ine
see the delicate workings of a watch through its case. Quite join in
recently a worthy clergyman was sentenced to five years' Protecting
penal servitude for an assault on a child, in spite of one of
our best alienist's statement, that he was suffering from
incipient general paralysis. Time will prove the diagnosis,
but nothing will heal the social wound.
As age approaches devolution follows the reverse course
of evolution. Some men are old at 45, some at 60 and some
weather the storms till riper years. The brain loses weight
soon after 50, and as age advances the trusty brain cells yield
up their service and fall out of action.
Memory fails first, the hand becomes shaky, lastly the Failure of
feet drag and shuffle along, indicating the failure of the func- p^^^
tion of association, before that of the sensori-motor areas.
Likewise as the deeper layers of pyramidal cells are the
earliest educated, so the more superficial cell layers degenerate
first, and with them pass away the more recent and complex
visual memories, leaving the deeper or more ancient memories
of childhood. These facts are of value in the practical life
of every social community.
This solid fact is worthy of national consideration in the
election of members to Parhament. The very serious and
anxious duties of governing the Empire falls into the hands
of inexperienced amateurs. It would be wise at aU events
to place an age limit, as in the case of the army and of con-
sulting surgeons to hospitals. If the Empire is to keep pace
with other nations it must be controlled and guided by younger
and more active brain cells, and the senile cells must retire
to their normal and well earned condition of rest.
Thus senile decay like a mirror reflects youth and infancy.
Sound training in these early periods is of great importance,
for if neglected one gets in senility much waywardness and
many other faults more or less serious, which are not new,
112 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
nor do they belong to old age, but are the uncovering of the
long buried past.
Incipient
Mental
Decay
When the brain deteriorates, the effect is so gradual that
it easily escapes recognition. The father who has conducted
a model home gradually loses his parental interest, causing
his family distress. The thrifty man becomes extravagant,
while the honourable and moral show unusual frivolity and
tend to stray. Friends say he is quite altered, and so he is,
for the machinery, which can only last a certain time according
to stress, is wearing out. It is time for the doctor, lest there
be social trouble and disorder. These cases increase in number,
for there is now greater stress, through more rapid methods
of business and keener competition. Ease and luxury are
also in themselves powerful aids to degeneracy.
We see the converse where young women have in late years
gone in for sports and also for business and abandoned their
former inactive methods. Their diseases have in consequence
visibly decreased, but their type is altering and they become
slightly masculine.
It requires no power of imagination to realize the thous-
ands of children growing up with slightly damaged brains,
who attract no special notice from the casual observer. It is,
however, just the little damage, sometimes curable, which
turns the scale against an individual in the struggle for exist-
ence. He never reaches the proper level of development that
God originally equipped him for. If such belong to the poorer
classes they naturally tend to swell the numbers of the sub-
merged, or of the criminal masses.
Lowered
Potential
in
Starved
Children
If the brain potential in children be lowered, they cannot
be forced to intellectual effort, as we see daily demonstrated
in the State schools, the condition being frequently aggravated
by starvation. I maintain that these weakly, ill-nourished
children have no business at school, and would be better with
no strain from education of that kind.
Where damage to the brain has occurred much ground
may be regained by suitable nourishment, and by gently
stimulating processes of thought, not by constant pressure,
nor dry-as-dust methods, but by placing a variety of subjects
INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENT ON THE BRAIN 113
before the child, so as to bring out observation and mentation,
and probably fix on some hobby or faculty capable of further
development in a useful direction.
The antenatal conditions must not be overlooked. Given Ante-
the prospects of offspring, we must do everything to make ^i^^g "'
their journey a success. and Pros-
There are according to Dr. Ford Robertson 3,000,000,000 P^^**
cells in the brain, all of which are foretold in the embryo in
the form of small round nuclei or neuro-blasts.^ These nuclei
absorb nourishment from the blood, and upon this maternal
environment hangs the future fate of the child. It is a terrible
responsibihty and one which is so lamentably neglected by many.
Poor are our chances where the mother's blood may con-
tain gouty, phthisical, syphiHtic, or alcoholic toxins, or be
deficient from anaemia, and malnutrition. During develop-
ment these nuclei absorb leicithin, which is rich in phosphorus
to buUd up the body of the surrounding nerve cell, and later
shoot out the nerve fibres, dendrons and axons.
It is quite evident that many a child is ruined in utero, and
its miserable fate decided before birth.
Postnatal precautions may undo some of the unfavourable Post-
antenatal conditions, and every new-born infant should be vironment
regarded as a valuable asset to the nation. If we ever do and its
become truly civiHzed, this will be the first care on the part
of the State, and the infamy of treating innocent babes of
obscure origin as offenders against society will be removed.
It is in infancy that the little life can be specially moulded,
for good or for evil. No success in mind or morals can be
expected, unless due regard is paid to physical health and
nutrition. Our poor boys, degraded unjustly in prison,
are mostly victims of neglect and heredity from unwholesome
marriages, while the melancholy histories I have recorded
show how many of our criminals were ill-fated from infancy
and some were doomed before birth.
Can it be wrong to control and forbid marriage in certain
cases, or are we sinning against God and humanity in per-
mitting such unwholesome mixtures ?
1 See fig. pp. 101, 108.
I
Conse-
quences
CHAPTER XIV
THE RELATION OF PHYSIOGNOMY TO BRAIN CELLS
Popular phrenology, or bumpology. PHYSIOGNOMY : A counterpart of
the brain — The development of the eye — Facial muscles and expression.
RELATION OF BRAIN CELLS TO MUSCLE FIBRE : Muscular repre-
sentation on the cortex — Paralysis — Muscle tone, DEVOLUTION :
General paralysis : its course — Expressionless boys — Climate and charac-
ter—Brain is the central authority. THE INFLUENCE OF MARRIAGE
ON CHARACTER : Marriage— A bureau desirable— Misfits— Small
families desirable. TEMPERAMENTS : The nervous ; The bilious ;
The sanguine ; The lymphatic ; Marriage.
It would be of no practical value to discuss seriously the
subject of " Popular Phrenology," described by Sir WilKam
Turner " Bumpology," as it has no foundation in fact. True
phrenology which has a scientific basis, being always con-
fronted with the quack, has no opportunity of declaring itself
under that title. Otherwise much could be written under
that heading in regard to cranial measurements, anatomical
and racial peculiarities, and other details.
The surface of the brain is mapped out into areas, as already
described in previous chapters representing
Sensation, Motion, and Association.
The description of the skuU for different " faculties," as music,
colour, destruction, amativeness, combativeness, and so on,
is purely imaginary and founded on fanciful and fallacious
observations. It is, however, only just to observe that many
phrenologists are earnest philanthropists, not working for
gain, and many do very useful educational work.
Physiog- But there is another art, " Physiognomy," which appears
"^'"y to rest upon a scientific basis. We are all aware that some
carry their characters in their faces, but it is probable that
aU do so if we only understood how to interpret the manifesta-
tions. It is therefore important to examine this direct associa-
114
RELATION OF PHYSIOGNOMY TO BRAIN CELLS 115
tion of the brain with physiognomy. The result suggests
indeed that they are counterparts.
In such research one must always go back to the early
development in the embryonic state. For example, the eye
is an outgrowth from the forebrain of the embryo (fig. p, 72).
There is first a stalk, which becomes the optic nerve, and
then a cup at its termination which develops into the retina.
The whole is covered over by a horny cap, the cornea. Every
one knows how the eye expresses the degree of intelligence,
both active and passive, while we have in the Old Book the
following scientific declaration, which appeared long before
mankind was ready for it : " The light of the body is the eye."
The word " light " implies intelligence. Thus the mental
relationship of eye to mind, so long known by observation,
has a true physical basis.
Examining in a general way, we observe that the facial
expressions are entirely due to fine muscular movements,
which show anger, pleasure, pain, sorrow or mirth, correspond-
ing to the mental associations.
Most animals are devoid of facial expression ; but many,
as birds and lower mammals, have powers in this direction
through the eye and scalp by means of the surrounding muscles.
When we consider the cat, dog and ape tribe, we find a decided
advance in facial characteristics.
The cells of the brain cortex are in communication with Relation
the skin and aU the muscles of the body. One might almost r^P^f"
suggest the muscle fibres as the terminals of the motor cells. Muscle
for when a central group of motor cells is destroyed, paralysis ^^^^^
and wasting of the particular muscles occur. In cases of
infantile paralysis, of an arm or leg, the corresponding motor
cells are diseased or dead. The muscles consequently never
develop, and the skin over that part shrivels from want of
stimulus and nutrition. When a limb is amputated its special
motor area on the cortex atrophies. Though every muscle and
group of muscles is represented on the cortex of the motor
area, yet its quantitative degree varies as stated in Chapter XII.
Thus the coarse leg muscles require less representation than the
finer muscles of the hand, which is capable of skilled and
complex acts, and therefore the hand has more ceUs and a
116 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
larger area in the cortex than the leg. In the same way
the motor cells of the muscles of speech occupy a larger area
on the cortex than those of the hand, as representing the
crowning skill of the human species.
The motor functions are chiefly in the frontal region.
That which represents the facial muscles is entirely in the
upper part and side of the forehead ; the speech centre residing
at the left temple.^ When destruction of groups of brain
cells occurs, as from haemorrhage or tumour, there follows a
paralysis of the muscles so affected. From other pathological
conditions we know also that tone and vitality of muscle de-
pend entirely on the healthy state of the central nerve cells.
Thus brain cell and muscle are counterparts of one system,
of which the cell may be likened to master and the muscle to
servant.
Devolu- In general paralysis of the insane, which has been alluded
°" to, one can see the muscles gradually fail as the motor areas
are invaded by the disease. After the association areas
degenerate, the speech fails, because it is the last muscular
function to develop, and therefore the most unstable. Almost
concurrently, the facial muscles lose tone and become flabby,
which results in apathy and loss of expression. A placid
calm, betraying neither interest nor emotion, reigns over
the faces of these deeply afflicted ones. This expressionless
face from devolution has unfortunately its counterpart in
some of our youths from want of evolution, being noticeable
among the insipid youths who aim at snobbism, but though a
type of mental enfeeblement, it is in most cases curable. This
type of young man is supposed to look bored if any intellectual
subject is brought to his notice, and it would be incorrect to
be interested in his surroundings. His chief interests are his
clothes and his complexion. He is, alas, an invert, and is
found in those walks of life where industry is discouraged and
honest work despised. These young people are of no value to
the commonwealth until they have recovered. Many, per-
haps most, of them are the fault of their parents, while some
are imitative weaklings, trying to resist their normal mental
^ In left-handed people the speech centre is supposed to be in the
right temple.
Medium Sized PvKf\n!DaL Cell
Motor ^^ir[ p^cp f\w?sus ^tHCl^eus
^fJtK l-'.qi^TDf^E OF ViSEELS
This beautifully stained diagram has been lent to me by Dr. Mott. It
shows the cell body and dendrons. The axon is faint and comes off the
hillock at the base. It also demonstrates a neuron.
Facing page } 76.
RELATION OF PHYSIOGNOMY TO BRAIN CELLS 117
development. They are very largely the product of ease, and
consequently are met with among the wealthy more than
the aristocratic classes. Their counterparts in the lower ranks
occur among the poor wastrels and unemployables. Climate
and general surroundings have much to do with energy and
character formation, as one may reaUze by comparing the
hardy Scot and his stern countenance with the soft lined
ItaHan whose needs are liberally supphed by nature without
much effort on his own part.
The brain then is the central authority of the body, govern-
ing and directing all details. In one sense it would appear
as if the body was built on the brain or attached to it in order
to subserve its purposes, while in no part does the brain
manifest itself more clearly than in the physiognomy.
It is the object of all to get the best value out of every brain,
and try to improve all future stock. Here comes in the
importance of wise and wholesome marriage.
Selection in marriage would undoubtedly raise the standard
of individuals. It would not make a new human species
however, for De Vries, in experimenting with sugar beet, found
that " selection " gave phenomenal results only for a time.
The same happened with cereals in producing large and heavy
grain. After a certain period there was a higher average
standard. Karl Pearson in biometry arrived at the same
result. Malthus expressed the same opinion in his Essay on
Population, ii, p. 11.
But while perfection is beyond any dream, what a grand
thing if we could be permanently raised on to a higher platform
socially, morally and intellectually !
The greatest boon to the nation would be a Marriage Bureau, "^^e In-
scientifically conducted under Government control. Wise Marriage
supervision is to be desired for the young to prevent foolish ^
and thriftless unions, while many valuable members of both
sexes are yearning, in a state of bitter disappointment, for a
healthy offspring.
On the other hand the vast number of misfits in the present
speculative methods of marriage is the cause of much domestic
misery and crime ; whereas in our modern civilization, marriage
is a duty requiring much judgment and very careful selection.
Character
118 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
Ignorant marriage is largely responsible for the heavy burden
of disease, lunacy and crime.
The benediction of the Psalmist on large families does not
apply in these days of overcrowding and competition. Few
people can now afford to be generous to the population, as
long as generosity spells poverty, discontent, and crime to the
offspring, not to mention the drain of health on the mother.
We have also very carefully to mate suitable temperaments.
Tempera- t^q usually recognize four temperaments : —
1. The Nervous.
2. The Sanguine.
3. The Bihous and
4. The Lymphatic.
The Nervous Temperaments. — These are active, rapid
thinkers, intellectually fertile, and adventurous ; but also sensi-
tive, excitable, irresolute, and secretive. Being very persistent
they often exceed their power of endurance. Most genii and
reformers belong to this class. Physically they are fair, and
of spare form, with finely-cut features. In morals they are
apt to go to the extreme of what is right or wrong, and
whilst usually lively, are subject to unreasonable depression
and despondency.
The Bilious temperament contains those who are of dark
eyes and hair, broad and thickset. Mentally they are serious,
and slower in thought and action, than those of the former
temperament. They are good in business, not rash in specu-
lation. They are apt to be spiteful and not very willing to
forgive. They are very domesticated, good to their families,
and being inclined to selfishness accumulate wealth.
The Sanguine folk are ruddy in complexion and hair, florid,
blue eyed and broad in build. Whatever troubles come they
are cheerful, impulsive, and never lose hope. They are also
emotional and energetic, but changeable. They are just as
happy over trifles as over big things. They are frank and
outspoken, never spiteful or secretive. They are too super-
ficial to be great students, and too happy-go-lucky to be
disagreeable.
The Lymphatic or Lethargic people are fair, fleshy and
heavy in build, often with brown eyes. They are mentally slow
RELATION OF PHYSIOGNOMY TO BRAIN CELLS 119
and careful, very thoughtful in arriving at conclusions, and
ready to forgive, being too lazy to be wicked or to cherish un-
kind feehngs. They are never brilliant or active but plodding,
and with great power of endurance. They spend httle, and
are very self indulgent.
It is dangerous for two of nervous temperament to marry,
as the offspring may be neurotic in high degree. In any case
they will probably be unstable, and are therefore liable to
deviations in any direction, either good or bad.
A nervous temperament should be alhed preferably to a lym-
phatic. One then gets stability of character from the latter,
with the finer perceptions of the former. Nervo-bilious
alliances are passable, and nervo-sanguine are good, lethargo-
lethargic combinations are very bad, producing the lazy
beings who block all progress, and also inverts, who so com-
monly become criminals.
CHAPTER XV
PHYSICAL DEGENERATION AND DEFICIENCY, EXTERNAL
AND INTERNAL, SEEN AND UNSEEN
(A) EXTERNAL STIGMATA.— FEW HUMAN BEINGS ARE NORMAL SPECI-
MENS : The criminal not a type — Lombroso's work — A broad middle line
necessary — MacAlister on brain — Lunatic skulls. ASYMMETRY OF
SKULL AND FACE : We are two-sided and unequal — Abnormal skulls
— Transverse diameter in normal skull — The palate — Thickening of the
skull bones — Asymmetry of features — Lombroso's statements not quite
trustworthy. ABNORMALITIES AMONG GREAT MEN. INFLU-
ENCE OF ENVIRONMENT ON DEGENERACY : In Ireland : Juvenile
adults— City lads CRIMINALS' SKULLS— (5) CRANIAL MEASURE-
MENTS : A TECHNICAL APPENDIX : Cranial index— Very mislead-
ing : cases— No guide as to size. DR. SUTHERLAND ON CRIMINAL
HEADS : Circumference of skull — Two arches : anteroposterior and
lateral — Family types — Ford Robertson's measurements. ABNORMAL
CASES : Idiots — Sir J. Crichton Browne's cases — Difference in area of sur-
face of skull according to rank and education — Head measurements open
to fallacies. (C) SKULL DEVELOPMENT AT DIFFERENT PERIODS.
THE NEGRO SKULL: Our skull quite different from the ape's— The
missing link — D'Aubenton's and Soemering's observations — Corrected
by M. Broca— The facial index. INTERNAL CAPACITY OF THE
SKULL : Skull comparison open to great fallacies. — ARRESTED EVO-
LUTION IN LOWER RACES : The skull of pre-historic man. DE-
GENERACY NOT A REVERSION TO PRIMITIVE MAN : Due to unseen
causes— Changes in germ-plasm. (D) INTERNAL, UNSEEN DE-
GENERATION : Destruction, or arrested growth of nuclei in brain —
Infantile type of nose — Precocity among genii — Precocious children must
not be forced — Observation by Robert Knox, the Edinburgh anatomist.
" Deficiunt Vires " (Ability is wanting)
{A) EXTERNAL STIGMATA
Few Too much importance is attached to external malformations,
Bdn*^ deficiencies and asymmetries. Few of us could pass as perfect
are Specimens, whilst many with marked stigmata of degenera-
^eclmens *^°^ have shown not only superior inteUigence, but also high
morale.
On the other hand a number of criminals are manifestly of
very low type, showing every variation of irregular and mal-
formed features, and arrested development. In them we find
120
PHYSICAL DEGENERATION, SEEN AND UNSEEN 121
in many cases arrested physical growth, combined with
feeble intellect, and, as a rule, absence of moral sense.
The ItaHan Professor Lombroso has written very exten-
sively and rather dogmatically on this subject, carrying his
conclusions far beyond legitimate bounds ; nevertheless, his
works are now classical. They contain a collection of facts
and evidence, not too comphmentary, concerning every
world-known character, for even if a man is too tall he is
labelled by Lombroso as a degenerate. Morel and Fere {La
famille neuropathique) have written a good deal on the subject