THE NEGRO BRAIN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE NEGRO BRAIN.

Some important researches into the microscopical structure of the brain of the East African native are reported in the British Medical Journ-’ It is now possible to divide the grey matter of the brain into various Javers and to measure these layers accurately. Three main divisions arc recognised: Infragranular, granular and supraganular. The infraganular layer is held to be the seat of the animal instincts; the granular that of the perception of sensations; while the supragranulnr is concerned with will, intellect, control, etc. In the brain of the East African nat've the infragranu’ is 6 per cent, larger than in the European, while the two other layers show a decrease of 9.3 per cent., compared with the European. I is reported that “in the first series of brains examinee microscopically, only 6 per cent, appeared to approach in quality the average of the European brain, and not one was above the average.” “If,” writes Dr. James H. Sequeira, of Nairobi, in communicating these results, “it is proved tha.. the physical basis of ‘mind’ in the Eas African di r s from that of the European, it seems quite p ■ ' ; ble that efforts to educate these backward races on European lines will prove ineffective and probably disastrous-”