PORTRAIT OF A BORN CRIMINAL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9999, 25 May 1895, Page 5

PORTRAIT OF A BORN CRIMINAL.

Treating of the " new science " of criminology in the Calcutta Review, Surgeon Captain Buchanan thus recapitulates the signs of the bora oximinal :— "A apeoial shape of skull; a pale, prematurely-wrinkled face ; outstanding or otherwise deformed ears ; a marked, projecting, or receding chin, and soanty beard. He Is constitutionally lazy, and incapable of sustained work. His masoular strength is weak, bat capable of great spasmodic effort. He is usoally ngly, the fixed look in the eye mar be noted, especially during effort. He is liable especially to diseases of the lungs and the heart. He comes of a nenrotio or criminal stock ; is addicted to alcoholism. He frequently tatooeß'bimsef 1 ; the tendon reflexes are abnormal. He shows a deficient sensibility to pain. While his eyesight Is leeD, his other eenaeß are usually inferior. He is remorseless and indifferent to suffering. His intelligence is below the aver»n<j. He has a atrong craring for exoitement and ohaoge, and a love of orgy. Is liable to spontaneous and periodic outbursts of violenoe. He is open to sentiment, superstitious, and attracted to the emotional side of religion. He has a special language of his own. His instincts are, in fine, anti- social, and he frequently believes that orlme is an honourable calling ! Many of his characteristics are found in savages and animals. While abnormal ia his pbysi oal qualities, the moral Bide of his natnre is a blank. Though not intellectually, he is often morally, an Idiot." .