BALDNESS AND BRAINS

Evening Star, Issue 19406, 15 November 1926, Page 1

BALDNESS AND BRAINS

The kindly suggestion was made hy two professors of anthropology in a British Association debate that lack of hair helps the growth of brain. One of these learned gentlemen, Professor Fleure, said that growth of hair absorbed large quantities of energy, and that thryroid secretion was closely associated with this growth. It would not be far wrong, therefore, to say that, with diminished hair growth, the influence of thyroid secretion has been liberated to exert itself elsewhere (cornmeals the Johannesburg ‘ Star ’). Since its relations with brain growth were understood to be close, Hus might he an accessory factor of brain growth in man. The other professor, Dr Gunther, quoted Shakespeare’s lines; “What he (Time) has scanted men in hair he hath given them in wit.” Dr Gunther also developed the interesting theory that the discovery of fire is the cause of fctic hairlessness of man. “No man,” he said, “could play about with fire and keep his hair on.” The hairy man was at a disadvantage as compared with the hairless man, so (hat hairlessness became the outward and visible sign of'the attainment of a certain standard of intellect. % All of which is sad news for the handsome hairy young heroes of the seaside. I