The Brain Of The

Native.

By a Medical Correspondent.

MANY white residents in the Western Pacific are of opinion that the Melanesian native’s brain is so con structed that it fails to function in the way expected of it. This opinion is quite correct; the grey matter of th,e savage, or his half-civilised descendent, differs very markedly from that of the Eu ropean.

Recent investigations in British East Africa have brought to light some re markable features in the physical struc ture of the brains of natives, which must have a powerful effect on character and may convince those who are assisting in native education that an overhaul of their methods is desirable.

The human brain shows a racial vari ation in size, weight, and microscopic structure. The Caucasoid (white) race has the largest and heaviest brain, fol lowed in order by the Mongol (yellow brown), East African, Negroid, and Aus traloid. These facts have been known for some time, but additional knowledge of the intimate structure of the brain has now been added.

In the forebrain are three distinct layers, each with a different function.

The layer which deals with, the higher functions of will, intelligence, and con trol of the emotions and instincts reaches a greater development in the Caucasoid brain than in any other. Conversely, the layer of cells governing representation of the animal instincts, reproduction, and self-preservation is found to be greater in the native. A middle layer, dealing

with, perception of sensations, is almost equal in the two types, the Caucasoid being slightly in advance.

This proved that the animal instincts of uncivilised people, which we know to be a dominating influence in the gen eral racial character, is in reality due to an anatomical excess from which there can be no escape. A still more technical survey of the structure revealed the fact that only six per cent, of native brains approach in quality that of the European, and not one was above the average.

The “British Medical Journal”, com menting on these striking facts, sums up as follows: “Educational authorities dealing with backward native races cannot afford to neglect the teachings of anthropology and psychology. If it is proved that the physical basis of “mind” in the native differs from th#t of the Euro pean, it seems possible that efforts to educate these backward races on Euro pean lines will prove ineffective and possibly disastrous. It has long been recognised among highly civilised races that the educational methods applied to the normal child cannot be applied to the backward and defective”.

It cannot be doubted that our present methods of educating natives require re vision, for the results h#ve often proved them to be unsound. At the same time, no one can deny the rapid progress in the control of animal instinct that con tact with Europeans has produced in our South Sea subjects. Two generations has in many instances turned a race of can nibals into decent members of society.

Mr. J. N. Marshall, of Oil Search Ltd., reached Sydney in January from Wewak, T.N.G., on short leave.