ESQUIMO BRAIN, 
By ALES HRDLICKA, M. D. 
REPRINTED FROM PROCEEDINGS OF THE 
AMERICAN MEDICO-PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 
NEW YORK, 2V. Y., 
1899. Plate I.—Kishu and Menee (photographed on their admission to 
Bellevue Hospital). ESQUIMO BRAIN.* 
By ALES HRDLICKA, M. D., 
New York, N. Y. 
The brain in question is that of Kishu, an adult male Esquimo 
of about forty-five years of age, who died of acute general 
tuberculosis (1). 
Kishu was a chief of his tribe; he measured 1.64 cm. in 
height, weighed about 170 pounds was muscular, and in every 
respect normally developed. He died within les3 than five 
months after the inception of the disease. Figure No. 1 shows 
him, together with his son, as he was on admission to the hospital. 
The autopsy on the body was performed in my presence by 
Dr. Harlow Brooks, one of the asssociates of the Pathological 
Institute at Bellevue Hospital, where the Esquimo died. I am 
indebted to Dr. Brooks for some notes concerning the general 
condition of the brain and its membranes. And I am indebted 
to the authorities of the Anthropological Department of the 
New York American Museum of Natural History, and to the offi- 
cers of the Medical Department of Bellevue Hospital for the 
privilege of being allowed to measure and examine the specimen. 
Before the skull was opened, I secured the following meas- 
urements on the head: 
1. Kishu was one of the six Esquimaux who were brought to New York 
in 1896. by Lieutenant Peary, from the neighborhood of Smith’s Sound. Of 
these six Esquimaux four, including Kishu, have since succumbed to acute 
tuberculosis; one was sent back to Smith’s Sound; and a boy of about twelve 
years survives, after having recovered from incipient pulmonary tuberculo- 
sis, in the care of Mr. Wallace, the Superintendent of the American Museum 
of Natural History. The brains of the other three Esquimaux who died are 
being examined by Prof. Geo. S. Huntington, of Columbia College. 
* Read at the Annual Meeting of the American Medico-Psychological 
Association, New York, N. Y., May, 1899, 4 
ESQUIMO BRAIN. 
HEAD. 
Diam. antero-post. max 19.8 cm. 
“ lateral max 15.1 cm. 
(Cephalic Index 76.26.). 
Height (from line between the aud. meati) 14.2 cm. 
Diam. biauricular (between the depressions over the 
roots of zygomae, in front of the ear) 18.2 cm. 
“ frontal minimum 10.4 cm. 
Circumference max 56.8 cm. 
-Diam. bigonial 11.1 cm. 
FACE. 
Diam. bizygomatic max 14.5 cm. 
Height of face: Chin to nasion 12.3 cm. 
“ interciliary line 14.3 cm. 
“ insertion of hair 20.0 cm. 
These measurements agree in main with those which I have 
taken on the other Esquimaux from the same locality. 
The scalp was found to be less than average in thickness; this 
was undoubtedly due to the advanced general emaciation of the 
subject. 
The skull is entirely symmetrical, the sutures are well trace- 
able and all appear to be still pervious (1). Skull-cap thin. 
No adhesion to the dura, the soft membranes normal. Sev- 
eral masses of Pacchionian granulations over the longitudinal 
sinus. No tuberculosis (2) nor any other pathological lesion. 
Very small quantity of fluid. 
There is a pronounced pigmentation of the pia and arachnoid, 
from the pons to over and below the calamus scriptorius. 
Weight of brain denuded of dura mater, after a few minutes 
exposure for drain, 1503 grammes (3). (Brain was laid in 20 
parts 5 per cent, formaline and 80 parts 95 per cent, alcohol, 
which solution was expected to harden it without changing its 
volume.) 
1. The dry skull shows the beginnings of ossification in several of the 
sutures. 
2. The brain and the heart were about the only organs where tubercular 
lesions were absent. 
3. Mean weight of white male brain in 154 men of mean height of 1.680 
m., equal 1361. 5 g. (Broca). 
Mean weight of white male brain in 168 men of mean height of 1.679 m., 
equal 1357.5. (Manouvrier). ALES HRDLICKA. 
5 
EXAMINATION OF THE BRAIN. 
(Three weeks after death.) 
Weight.—The brain was denuded of the membranes and di- 
vided into its principal parts. After 15 m. drainage the whole 
and the different parts were found to weigh as follows: 
Whole encephalon, 1325.0 gr. 
(Loss in three weeks through solution, and through loss of 
membranes, 178.0). 
Cerebrum, 1155.0 gr. or 87.17 % of the total, 
r. hemisphere, 577.0 gr. 
1. “ 578.0 gr. 
Cerebellum, 142.0 gr. or 10.72 % of the total. 
Pons & Bulb, 28.0 gr. or 2.1 % of the total.* 
The study of a single Esquimo brain cannot, naturally, lead 
to any definite conclusions as to the morphological peculiarities 
of the brain in this particular race of people. Hence in resum- 
ing the study of the specimen, I can only speak of its individ- 
ual characters, that is of the similarities and differences it shows 
when compared to an average white brain. 
As a whole, this Esquimo brain is heavier and larger than the 
average brain of white men of similar stature. The excess of 
weight over the averages of both Broca’s and Manouvrier’s 
specimens, averages which agree well with those obtained by 
Bischoff, Boyd, Sims, Huschke, and other observers, amounts to 
almost 150 grammes. 
As to size, according to Huschke, the average antero-post. 
diameter of the white male brain ranges between 16.0 and 17.0 
cm., and the average maximum lateral diameter 14.0 cm. Simi- 
lar measures on Kushan’s brain gave us, for the length, 18.0 
cm., with the left and 17.85 cm., with the right hemisphere, and 
for the breadth, 14.2 cm., each measure showing thus almost 
2 mm. excess over the same average measures on white male 
brain. 
* In white brain, the proportionate weight of the cerebellum, medulla and 
pons together, is to that of the whole brain in the adult as 13 to 87. (Huschke). 
The cerebellum is 10.7 of the total encephalon (Meynert). According to 
Broca, the relative weights to that of the whole encephalon are: Cerebrum, 
87.3 %•, Cerebellum, 10.6 %•, Pons and Bulb, 1.91 %. 
As to the hemisphere, in 264 men Broca found the right to be the heavier 
in 138 cases, the left in 105 cases; the weight was even in 21 cases. 6 
ESQUIMO BRAIN. 
In its external conformation the Esquimo cerebrum exceeds 
that of an average white male in the number, extent and depth 
of the sulci, and in the complexity of the gyrations. 
The large size and the complex conformation of the Esquimo 
cerebrum oblige us to consider the same as having attained a 
very fair degree of development and differentiation, a degree 
not inferior to that met with in the average white person. 
The different parts of the Esquimo encephalon do not show 
the same relative proportions as they do in the average white 
brain; and the same fact is found when we consider separately 
the different principal parts of the cerebrum alone. The de- 
tailed figures* show that in Kishu’s brain the cerebral hemi- 
sphere arvproportionately lighter, the cerebellum, and particu- 
larly the pons with the bulb, proportionately heavier, than are 
similar parts of the brains of white males. Of the cerebral di- 
visions, the frontal lobes (parts anterior to the fissure of Ro- 
lando) are about equal in size to similar average parts in the 
brains of white people; but the lobes posterior to the fissure of 
Rolando are considerably larger in the Esquimo than they are 
in the average white male cerebrum. 
In consequence of the above the proportionate relations of the 
principal parts of the cerebrum are seen to be different in Ki- 
shu’s brain from what they are ordinarily in the whites. The 
differences are such as would denote a zoological inferiority of 
Kishu’s cerebrum. This inferiority may be fully compensated 
for by the advanced evolution of the cortex. 
The Esquimo cerebrum offers in addition to the above a great 
many points of interest. The two hemispheres differ very widely 
in their conformation. 
The principal differences between the two halves of the brain 
consist in the considerably greater size of the whole temporo- 
sphenoidal and the limbic lobes on the right side, and in the ap- 
parently much larger development on the right of Broca’s cap, 
or the speech centre. The right hemisphere shows a remark- 
able vertical gyration. Its inferior parietal convolution is more 
voluminous than that on the left side. 
On the left hemisphere, there is observable in general a some- 
what more complex gyration. The mesial part of the superior 
* Which will be given when this paper is published in extenso, ALES HRDLICKA. 
7 
frontal gyrus, the paracentral lobule, the precuneus, and the 
whole occipital lobe are more voluminous on this side. The 
whole left hemisphere is slightly longer than the right, notwith- 
standing the fact that the right tempero-sphenodial lobe is longer 
than the same part on the left side. The left Sylvian fissure 
(main limb) is longer, the left Rolandic fissure is situated more 
posteriorly and is more vertical (greater length of the inferior 
frontal convolution and the opercula),than the right. And there 
are many differences between, and peculiarities of, the individ- 
ual gyri, fissures, and sulci on the two hemispheres. 
It is difficult to form any substantiated opinion as to the mean- 
ing of even the most pronounced peculiarities and variations ob- 
served in this interesting brain. Those parts of the hemispheres 
wherein are situated the centres of the senses of sight and hearing 
and also those of smell, are largely developed and the centres 
exceed in extent the same parts in the average male brain of 
whites. All these centres, with the possible exception of that 
of sight, seem to be more developed on the right hemisphere, 
where we also find the prominent Broca’s convolution. 
The motor areas of the hemispheres are apparently very well 
developed. 
The intellectual areas show good absolute extent and an ad- 
vanced differentiation. They are superior both in size and com- 
plexity on the left to those on the right hemisphere. 
Kishu seemed, so far as I had the chance to observe him in 
life, intellectually superior to the other two men in the com- 
pany. The fact that he was the chief of his little tribe would 
speak for his mental capacity. Plate If,—Kishu’s Cerebrum (dorsal aspect). Plate III.—The Hemispheres of Kishu’s Cerebrum (lateral aspect). Plate IY.—The Hemispheres of Kishu’s Cerebrum (mesial aspect). Plate V.—Kishu’s Cerebrum (basal aspect). Plate VI,—Kishu’s Encephalon (basal aspect). Fig. II.—Right Island of Reil. 
F. R.—Fissure of Rolando. 
S. D.—Sulcus diagnolis 
V. S.—Vertical branch of anterior sylvian f. 
H. S.—Horizontal branch of anterior sylvian f. 
S. pci.—Sulcus presentralis infer. 
S. sc. p.—Sulcus subcentralis poster. 
S. c.—Sulcus centralis insulae. 
S. 1. s., s. 1. a., s. 1. p.— Sulci limitante3 super, anter, poster 
S. c.—Sulcus postcentralis insulaae. 
Fig. I.—Left Island of Reil.