Brain of an alcoholic vagrant
Dublin Core
Title
Brain of an alcoholic vagrant
Subject
Canavan, Myrtelle M. (Myrtelle May), 1879-
Eugenics
Photographs
Description
Dr. Myrtelle May Canavan, pathologist with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Diseases and a member of the staff of the Boston Psychopathic Hospital, displayed enlarged photographs of fifty brains of criminals and feeble-minded individuals at the exhibition attached to the meeting of the Second International Congress in 1921. The exhibition catalog entry states that the criminal brains “were, for the most part, either very long or very round, with well developed pattern, probably indicating that the criminal is potentially well endowed but improperly uses his endowment. Most of the crimes were minor ones—breaking and entering, drunkenness, vagrancy, now and then a major crime of murder. It was striking, perhaps fortunate, that the majority of these men were unmarried.” This specimen, no. 576, shows the brain of a Canadian alcoholic vagrant whose mother died insane. Dr. Canavan and Louise Eisenhardt published this series of photographs as The brains of fifty insane criminals : shapes and patterns, in 1942.
Abstract
Photograph of the Brain of an alcoholic vagrant, N 15 53, #576, published in The brains of fifty insane criminals : shapes and patterns in 1942 and displayed at 2nd International Exhibition of Eugenics in 1921.
Creator
Canavan, Myrtelle M. (Myrtelle May), 1879-
Date Created
1914
Rights
The Harvard Medical Library does not hold copyright on all materials in this collection. For use information, consult Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu
Access Rights
Access to the original work depicted requires advance notice. Contact Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu for additional information
Is Part Of
Canavan, Myrtelle M. (Myrtelle May), b. 1879. Papers, 1898-1945. GA 10.20, box 4, folder 1
References
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Format
image
Extent
1 photographic print, mounted
Type
still image
Identifier
0001956
Provenance
Gift of Dr. Canavan to the Library of Harvard Medical School, 1945
Files
Citation
Canavan, Myrtelle M. (Myrtelle May), 1879- , “Brain of an alcoholic vagrant,” OnView, accessed October 13, 2024, https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/items/show/6229.