Scientific Serials

Abstract

THE first fascicule of this year's Bulletin de la Société d' Anthropologie de Paris gives the new president, M. Dallas' inaugural address, in which he draws attention, amongst other points, to the importance in reference to anthropology of the study of “demography,” or that branch of sociology which treats of the influence of prosperity on populations in determining the maxima and minima of births and deaths. Alter speaking with just pride of the merit due to the Paris Society of having inaugurated the systematic study of anthropology, and of having served as the model for similar institutions in all the great cities of the old and new Continent, the President announced that in consequence of the appointment of two new secretaries, MM. Astézat and Gerard de Rialle, and of a general-assistant secretary, M. Magitot, as well as through the adoption of different rules for the transmission of papers, the publication of the Bulletins would no longer be subject to the delay which had of late years marked their appearance. In the discussion which followed M. de Mortillet's paper on the circles drawn on a fragment of a human skull found in the dolmens of Lozère, M. de Leguay took occasion to express his conviction that the men who constructed these megalithic monuments must have been possessed of tools of metal, and provided with textile fabrics such as strong ropes, capable of being used to lift and pull heavy weights. He does not venture to give an opinion as to the probable antiquity of these remains, but he believes that no one acquainted with practical mechanics can attach faith to the commonly accepted theory that these stones have been conveyed from distances and elevated to their present positions by slides or rollers. The speaker, moreover, pointed to the fact that a bronze bracelet of indisputable Gallic fabrication was found below one of the Lozère dolmens; and he is of opinion that the men who erected the latter used iron as well as bronze.—In discussing the human remains belonging to upwards of 200 individuals found by M. de Baye in the Baye caverns on the Marne, among which were skulls having circular lines and perforations similar to those of the Lozere fragment, M. Broca drew attention to the two distinct cranial types which they presented, the one being doli-cephalic, while the other was sub-brachycephalic.—Those interested in abnormal types of humanity will find much suggestive matter in several papers referring to the so-called Aztecs introduced into Europe twenty-five years ago, in whom microcephalism—whatever its cause may be—is more strikingly exhibited than in any other known case.—M. Hamy's learned paper on artificially produced microcephalism among the sacerdotal classes of Central America, gave rise to an animated discussion in which Dr. Broca and Madame Royertook part.—Dr. Mondières has laid an interesting report before the society, in which he supplies much hitherto unknown information in regard to the prevalent diseases of the natives of Cochin China, the remedies applied, and the practices resorted to by the bonzes for working pretended miracles. The author describes the I physical characteristics of the two distinct races, the Ming-huongs and true Cambodians.—M. Broca exhibited the skeleton of a Peruvian mummy-fœtus which had been taken from an ancient cemetery near Callao, laid bare by an earthquake. It was found in the portion of the ground appropriated to infants, and where each little body was tied tightly into a cloth and had enclosed with it a number of minute toy like vessels, utensils, and arms. The foetal mummy was examined with special reference to the existence of the supernumary cranial bone, which some Spanish writers affirm to be a characteristic of the Inca race. No such bone could, however, be detected in the Peruvian mummy, whose skull was precisely similar to those of Europeans at the sanae period of foetal existence.