attention has been given to the equally positive
development that can be secured for the brain, under the influence of
prolonged and systematic exercise of its functions. An immense increase
of functional capacity is possible, even without marked anatomical
alteration; but even this is observed under circumstances that seem to
indicate that it is rather the effect than the cause of changes in
function. Retzius (Muller's Archives, 1845, p. 89[47]) observes that the
female cranium varies in size much more than the male: "Female crania of
the higher and middle classes are in general much smaller relatively
than is the case among the peasants, a fact which probably depends on
the different mode of life and occupation. The skull of the Norway
female peasants is as large and strong as that of the men." Welcker
himself makes a somewhat analogous observation in regard to the crania
of different races, the differences between the sexes being more marked
in proportion to the civilization of the race--that is, to the degree of
specialization of education, and mental occupation. He gives the
following table:

CRANIAL CAPACITY.

WOMAN. MAN.

Asiatic Caucasian 1 1.27.
European 1 1.17.
Mongols 1 1.13.
Malays 1 1.08.
Americans 1 1.08.
Negroes 1 1.07.

Besides the prominent fact upon which Welcker insists, this table
indicates two others. First, that the anatomical difference in the
higher races is too little to explain the general difference in
intellectual achievement really observed between the two sexes of these
races. Second, that the difference is not in precise proportion to the
maximum intelligence attained by the race, but to the social inferiority
and subjection of the women; for the Asiatics (Hindoos) stand highest on
the scale, the Europeans only second; and the excess of the first over
the second, in regard to the point in question, is greater than the
excess of the Europeans over the other races named.

The general fact that, beyond certain well-defined limits, the activity
of the cerebro-spinal system and its relative predominance over the
ganglionic, is to be determined dynamically rather than anatomically, is
insisted upon by Laycock (_Med. Times and Gaz._, 1862). This writer
observes that the large, s