-^ .V *% "^ v^ . ^ k "^ N A ^ V s F NAMES OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL ORGANS AFFECTIVE. . (. PROPENSITIES i. Amaivferuss. Z. rmlopreyenibiivent ». Concentr ' . tTWSi '•olnhdbisLut. •■;. "i. Adhesiveness. '. Cdrtibt^ivenenr i. Destr-udtrenes i iaJlimenl-Lven? SS. i6.L pras presented at Howard's Hotel, in presence of the subscribers and others, by a committee consisting of the following geuilemen: Mr. E. P. Uurlbut, Rev. T. J Sawyer, Dr. Poster, Mr. 3. W. Dewey, Mr. E. C. Benedict, and Dr. Boaidmau. The chairman of the committee. Mr. Hurlbut, thus addressed Mr. Combe : "Sir: — The members of the class who attended your lectures, delivered in this city during the past year, have instructed us to present you with this vase, which, in their names, we now beg you to accept. " It bears upou one side three medallie likenesses, exquisitely wrought— one of Gall, to whose great discoveries in nature we are indebted tor the true science of mind j — one of Spurzhehn, who first aided in illustrating and establishing it; — and the other ot yourself, tJieir tirsl and favorite British disciple. " This high and just association will ever endure. He who founded, and they who first illustrated and advanced the true science of intellectual aud moral philosophy, will descend the stream of time together, shedding lustre upon future ages, and living m the grateful memories of generations to come alter us. " Upon this vase are also presented other medallic likenesses ; one of Rush, whose far- seeing eye, penetrating the veil of nature, which Gall afterward lifted, had visions of some of the great truths which he demonstrated ; and the other of Caldwell, who was tin; first among our countrymen to embrace and defend the doctrines of the great German with a boldness and vigor peculiarly his own. "We feel a patriotic pride, in associating the names of two of our own countrymen with the most distinguished names of Europe, connected with mental science. " You are soon to return to your native land — to your and our fathers' country. " Your visit here has awakened the interest of thousands, in your welfare — of thou- sands who are not wanting in gratitude for the instruction and delight^ which your dis- courses have afforded them — but who have had no opportunity to manifest, as we do on this most favored occasion, their high appreciation of your character aim attainments, and the enduring impression which your visit has made upon their minds. Their and our best wishes attend you. " Receive, then, this vase, (the inscription upon which is also graven upon our hearts;) and bear it to your home — a tribute to truth, and to the champion of truth ; and rest assured, that in our estimation, we could be called to perform no prouder otfic^, than 10 render a just tribute of respect and admiration to the author of 'The Constitution of Man.' " Mr. Combe received the vase, and spoke as follows : " Gkntlk.men : — Although I cannot correctly say that I am unused to public speaking, yet. on occasions like the present, words fail me to express what 1 feel. I accept of your handsome and generous gift with the highest gratification. The classical elegance of form, the exquisite workmanship, and the appropriate devices which it bears, render it a gem of beauty. As a mere physical object, indeed, its merits in this respect have been appreciated in this city; it has gained the gold medal offered lor the encouragejnent of art, and it will successfully sustain the strictest scrutiny of the distinguished artisans of the country to which I am about to cany it. But it is as a moral monument of your favorable estimation of my labors among you, and of the interest which you have taken in the science of mind, that it possesses to me an inestimable value. To Dr. Gall alone belongs the glory of having discovered the functions of the brain: Dr. Spurzheim generously devoted his whole life to the extension, improvement and diffusion of this splendid product of Gall's originality and genius: and it is difficult to do justice to the noble sacrifice which he made to the cause of truth. When Dr. Spurzheim became the disciple of Gall, no human being defended Phrenology except i!s author: and he not only stood alone, but encoun- tered the hostility of civilized Europe, from the emperor to the peasant, a few high- minded individuals only excepted, who were silenced by the hand of power if they rose superior to the influence of scorn. It is no slender honor to me that you associate mc with such men. Mine has been a flowery path compared with theirs. It is true that, when still a young man, without name, fortune, high associations, or any external advantages to sustain me against public disapprobation, I fearlessly risked every prospect which the future held forth to my ambition, and became the defender of Phre- nology when it had few other friends in the British isles. Professional ruin was prophe- ts the inevitable consequence of this, as it was then styled, rash and inconsiderate step. But for the encouragement of the young and ardent worshippers of truth, I am enabled to say that these auguries never were realized. Many were the shafts of ridicule that were hurled against me, and bitter the taunts poured forth by a hostile press; but they never penetrated to my soul, disturbed my peace, nor impeded my prosperity. 1 mention this, not in the spirit of vain-glory, but to confirm the young in the assurance, that the path of truth and independence may be safely trodden even against a world in arms, if courage and perseverance he added to prudence in the advance. " Allow me to say, that your gift receives a high additional interest from bearing also the portraits of Dr. Benjamin Rush and Dr. Charles Caldwell, both distinguished sons of the United States. The former supported, with admirable sagacity and eloquence, the connection between the brain and the mind, and proved the influence of the condition of Xll MR. COMBE. the organization on the mental manifestations. Of Dr. Charles Caldwell it is unnecessary for me here to express an opinion. His profound intellect and eloquent pen, his various and valuable attainments, his energy and industry, courage and perseverance, have pro*- cured him honor as one of the ablest and most successful defenders of Phrenology, where- ever the science itself is known. It will be a lasting gratification to me to look on the effigies of such men, in hours of festivity and relaxation, when your gift will bring them in all the lineaments of nature before me. " I have sojourned among you now for tbe greater part of two years, and I am about to leave your country. That I have experienced some inconvenience, and encountered several disagreeable incidents during my stay, is only what belongs to the lot of humanity ; but these sink into insignificance when contrasted with the generous cordiality and enlightened sympathy which have been showered upon me by yourselves and your fellow citizens. I have held converse with many enlightened minds in this country ; minds that do honor to human nature ; whose philanthropy embraces not only patriotism, but an all- pervading interest in the advancement of the human race in knowledge, virtue, religion, and enjoyment, in every clime. Many of these admirable men are deeply interested in Phrenology. The gifted individual* to whom Massachusetts owes an eternal debt of gratitude for his invaluable efforts in improving her educational establishments, has assured me that the new philosophy is a light in his path to which he attaches the highest value. You, sir, have shown, in a late valuable work that has issued from your pen, that you are penetrated to the core with this last and best of human sciences;! and many who now hear me have expressed similar testimonials to its worth. T return, therefore, highly gratified with much that 1 have experienced among you, and 1 shall not need this emblem of your respect to maintain the recollection of such men as I have described, engraven on my affections for ever. Allow me to add one brief expression of admiraiion and gratitude to a young countryman of my own, Mr. William Morrison, from Edinburgh, whose exquisite skill chased these admirable ornaments on your gift. Among his first efforts in art was a wax model which he executed of my head in Edinburgh. Many years ago he came to this country, was highly esteemed as a man and as an artist, and the embellishment of this vase was almost the last act of his life. Ten days have scarcely elapsed since he was laid in a premature grave. It would have delighted me to have addressed to his living ear, the tribute which I now offer to his memory " Again, gentlemen, I assure you of my heartfelt gratitude and lasting respect, and with best wishes for your happiness and prosperity, bid you farewell." Tbe labors of Mr. Combe in the United States comprised the following courses of Lec- tures : 1. Boston, begun 10th Oct., ended 14th Nov.. 1838. . . 16 Lectures. 2. New- York, begun 19th Nov., ended 24th Dec, 1838, . . 16 3. New-York, on education, within the same period, . 4 „ 4. Philadelphia, begun 4th .Ian., ended 8th Feb., 1839, . . 16 5. Wilmington, on education, during the interval between the last and succeeding course, ...... 4 r , 6. Philadelphia, begun 2d March, ended 6th April, 1839, . . 16 „ 7. New- York, begun 13rh April, ended 18th May, 1839, . . 16 8. Hartford, begun 27th Sept., ended 25th Oct., 1839, . . 12 9. Boston, begun 1st Nov., ended 27th Nov., 1839, . . . 12 „ 10. Boston, on education, (at the Odeon,) begun 29th Nov., ended 6th Dec, 1839, 3 > 11. Boston, on education, (at the Lyceum,) begun 5th Dec, ended 26th Dec, 1839, 4 12. Salem, on education, begun 9th Dec, ended 13th Dec, 1839. . 3 „ 13. Lowell, on education, begun 16th Dec. ended 20th Dec, 1839, 3 „ 14. Worcester, on education, begun 24th Dec, 1839, ended 2d Jan., 1840 4 15. Springfield, on education, begun 3d Jan.. ended 8th Jan., 1840, 3 „ 16. Albany, begun 13th Jan., ended 8th Feb., 1840 . . 13 17. New-Haven, begun. 17th Feb., ended 16th March, 1840, . 13 Making 158 Lectures, each occupying two hours. Mr. Combe arrived in America by the Great Western steamship, in September, 1838, and sailed for Europe in the British Queen steamship, June 1st, 1840. * Hon. Horace Mann. t Mr. Combe here referred" to a work recently published by Mr. Hurrbut, " Civil Office and Political Ethics." ESSAY PHRENOLOGICAL MODE OF INVESTIGATION. On its being observed to a scientific pretender, that facts were at variance with a hypothesis which he had announced, he replied indignantly, " So much the worse for the facts." Like this was the language of almost all expounders of natu- ral science antecedent to the seventeenth century. They worshipped the shadow of a mighty name. The Aristotelian philosophy held undisputed sway. Mahomedan, Jew, and Christian, vied with each other in hugging the chain of scholastic bondage, deeming a quotation from the stagi- rite adequate to establish the grossest absurdity, or refute the most obvious truth. So far did this infatuation reach, that, in some of the Universities, statutes were framed, re- quiring the professors to promise, on oath, to follow no guide but Aristotle ; and the French parliament, under Francis I., pronounced Peter Ramus to be " insolent, impudent, and a liar;'' and for all coming time, condemned, suppressed and abolished his books, prohibiting him from copying or even reading them, because he had publicly disputed the doc- 14 THE ARISTOTELIAN PHILOSOPHY. trines of the Greek ; nay, to attack these doctrines was, by legislative acts, rendered punishable by the galleys ! The following incident in the life of Galileo well illustrates this prostration of reason to authority. The Grecian philosopher had asserted that if two bodies, of like material, were let fall at the same time, from the same height, the heaviest would reach the ground as much sooner than the other, as it exceeded that other in weight ; that is, if it were fifty times as heavy, it would fall with fifty times the velocity. Galileo appealed from Aristotle to ob- servation, and maintained that, with the exception of a very slight difference, occasioned by the opposing air, both bo- dies would reach the earth in equal times. This proposi- tion was rejected as false, and scowled on as presumptuous ; so to demonstrate its truth, he took his opponents to the famous tower of Pisa, and let fall two weights from its sum- mit ; yet with the evidence of their eyes to the equally rapid descent, with the simultaneous sounds still ringing in their ears, the Aristotelians turned sneeringly and unbelievingly away, quoting the stagirite ! Through such thick clouds of error, prejudice, and bigotry, difficult indeed it was, for the light of science to pierce, and if now and then a ray of truth, from some bright and independent genius, struggled through the enshrouding darkness, it was like a solitary star on a dreary night, rendering " darkness visible." The Greeks having settled it in their own minds that a circle is the most perfect of figures, concluded that the movements of the heavenly bodies must be performed in exact circles, and with uniform motions, when the plainest observations demonstrated the contrary. "In the sixth century, Cosmas Indopleustes gravely taught, that the earth was an oblong plane, surrounded by an impassable ocean ; an immense mountain in the form of a cone, or sugar-loaf, placed in the north, was the centre, around which sun, moon, and stars daily revolved ; the shape of this mountain, and the slanting motion of the sun, THE ARISTOTELIAN PHILOSOPHY. 15 accounted for the variable length of the days, and the changes of the seasons. The heavens were supposed to be an immense arch, one side of which rested on the earth, and the other on two mighty pillars beyond the sea ; un- der this vault a multitude of angelic beings were employed In guiding the motions of the stars." — (Account ofJLord Bacon's Novum Organon Scientiarum, p. 5.) In the sixteenth century, Gerolamo Fracastorn, in his Homocentrica, considered one of the best productions of the day, maintained that all the stars are carried round the earth, fastened to solid concentric spheres, and to prove the necessity of such agency he " reasons" thus : " The plan- eta are observed to move one while forwards, then back- wards, now to the right, now to the left, quicker and slower by turns; which variety is consistent with a compound structure like that of an animal, which possesses in itself various springs and principles of action, but is totally at variance with our notions of a simple and undecaying sub- stance, like the heavens and heavenly bodies. For that which is simple is altogether single, and singleness is of one only nature, and one nature can be the cause of only one effect ; and therefore it is altogether impossible that the stars of themselves should move with such variety of motion. And besides, if the stars move by themselves, they either move in an empty spnee, or in a fluid medium like air. But there can not be such a thing as empty space, and if there were such a medium, the motion of the stars would occasion condensation and rarefaction in different parts of it, which is the property of corruptible bodies, and where they exist some violent motion is going on ; but the hea- vens are incorruptible, and are not susceptible of violent motion, and hence, and from many other similar reasons, any one who is not obstinate may satisfy himself that the stars cannot have any independent motion."* Such were * See life of Galileo Galilei, by Driukwater. 16 THE BACONIAN PHILOSOPHY. the loose assertions, rash assumptions, and wild imagi- nings, dignified by the name Philosophy. Men strove to explain phenomena by reasoning on their own conjectures, by hypotheses fanciful as fairy tales, and, at the best, by a loose application of general principles, drawn with reck- less haste, and presumption, from a few ill-observed facts. This was the prevalent mode of philosophising. Had such speculations and reasonings been merely the occasional ebul- litions of wayward minds, to adduce them as characteristic of the philosophy of the ancient and middle ages, would be as unfair as it would, in after times, to adduce the anti- phrenological tirades of the present day, as characteristic of the philosophy of the age in which we live. At the commencement of the seventeenth century appear edLord Bacon, one of the most remarkable men the world has produced. With " his supreme and searching glance, he ranged over the whole circle of the sciences," detected the ab- surdities of the schoolmen, and exposed them with a vigor- ous and unsparing hand. He dethroned the Aristotelian idol which had forages received the blind fealty of a world, and, fortunately for science and humanity, attempted not to substitute an idol of his own, but pointed to nature as alone worthy of homage. "Man," said he, in the opening sen- tence of his immortal work, " the servant and interpreter of nature, understands and reduces to practice just so much of nature's laws as he has actually experienced, more he can neither know nor achieve." Now this experience Ba- con maintained must be acquired by observation. To ob- serve facts, then, is the first great business of the investiga- tor. Facts may be divided into the presented and pro- duced. The first being such as nature offers to our obser- vation without any aid or interference of ours ; the second being such as occur in consequence of our putting in ac- tion, causes and agents over which we have control. In- stances of the last class are usually called experiments, and their production and observation Lord Bacon signifi- THE BACONIAN PHILOSOPHY. 17 cantly terms " asking questions of nature." Thus the increase of size in the human head, from infancy to adult age, is a fact presented to our observation. But the division of the anterior root of a spinal nerve, for the purpose of observing the loss of motion, is a produced instance or expe- riment. It must be remembered, however, that if facts be well scrutinized and verified, they are of equal value, whe- ther presented or produced : but the former, are almost the only ones employed in phrenological investigations. Observation, then, being the only true means of laying a foundation for the discovery and establishment of truth, we should dismiss from our mind, all preconceived notions of what should be or might be, and tr^ carefully to ascertain what is. This rule was neglected by Ludovico Dolci and others who maintained that the cerebellum must be the seat of memory, because its low and out of the way situa- tion so admirably fitted it for a mental store-house. It was adhered to by Gall, when, neglecting the assertions of those who maintained that mental capacity ought and must, at birth, be equal in all, he observed and maintained that vast differences do in reality exist. But we must bear in mind that isolated facts are of small value. They must be brought together carefully and pa- tiently ; must be rigidly scrutinized and verified, compared and classified, for the purpose of ascertaining some relation of sign and power, cause and effect, general principle, quality, or mode of activity. To achieve such results is, indeed, the great object and triumph of the Baconian phi- losophy. By such observation, comparison, and classifica- tion, it has been discovered for example, that a certain state of the barometer indicates a certain elevation above the level of the sea; that increase of heat causes bodies to ex- pand ; that all the individual plants of the crow-foot tribe are more or less acrid and poisonous ; that the sun modi- fies the moon's influence on the tides. Or, to take another series of examples. By this method it has been ascertain- 2* 18 THE BACONIAN PHILOSOPHY. ed that a large skull indicates a large brain, and that a large brain causes a large skull ; that persons having a brain weighing but one and a half pounds are invariably idiotic ; that a predominant coronal region gives a general tendency or disposition towards virtue, and that education has the power of modifying the constitutional tendencies of our nature. The fundamental error of ancient philosophy was the no- tion that a general cause must be first divined or conjectured, and then applied to the explanation of particular pheno- mena ; they perceived not the plain but momentous truth, that a general fact is nothing else than a fact common to many individuals, and consequently, that the individual facts must be known, before the general fact can be stated. Hence, instead of first ascertaining by direct observation, the relative velocity of two descending bodies differing in j weight, then of two others — persisting with new experiments I until enough of instances had been observed to justify an i assumption of uniformity, Aristotle first assumed a gross I error as a general fact, and then inferred it of any two j bodies whatever. His reasoning was correct, but his pre- miss was false. He attended to logic but utterly neglected I induction. But, besides pointing out the true method of investiga- J tion, the Baconian philosophy furnishes a number of tests i by which we may know when two facts bear to each other the relation of cause and effect, or of sign and power, j These are, 1. " Invariable connection." 2. " Invariable negation of the effect, with absence of the cause." 3. " Increase or diminution of the effect, with the increa- sed or diminished intensity of the cause." It further teaches us that, " we are not to deny the exis- tence of a cause in favour of which we have a unanimous THE BACONIAN PHILOSOPHY. 19 agreement of strong analogies, though it may not be appa- rent how such a cause can produce the effect."* For example, suppose a dark line be observed invariably to exist on the forehead of man, and on the heads of all such animals as sing, or recognize the melodious succes- sion of notes, and to be invariably absent from the heads of such animals as do not sing, or manifest such recognition. Again, suppose the musical faculty to be possessed by dif- ferent individuals, of the same species, in different degrees. A long line being invariably accompanied by great musical power, and a short line by feeble musical power, the poiver varying in strength in proportion as the line varied in length. Here we should have that " invariable connection," that " invariable negation of the effect* with absence of the cause," and that, u increase or diminution of the effect, with the increased or diminished intensity of the cause," which would unavoidably lead us to recognize one of the pheno- mena as the cause or sign, and the other as the effect or power, notwithstanding that we might not be able to con- ceive how a dark line, and the musical talent, should be so related. Now what is here supposed of the black line, is de- monstrably true of a certain portion of the brain, with this advantage, that the brain is admitted by all to be an ade- quate material, or proximate cause of mental manifestation. The organ of tune is developed in all animals which have the musical faculty, and undeveloped in all such as have it not. In such as have it, the organ and faculty are always directly related in size and power. To pretend, with some, to trace all the magnificent discove- ries of modern times to the Novum Organon, as to the foun- tain whence they sprung, would be erroneous. Ere Bacon appeared, the art of printing had been diffused ; men had commenced to ask the why of all existing institutions, the re- * Discourse on the study of Natural Philosophy, by Sir John Her- schell, Nos. 145 and 148. 20 THE BACONIAN PHILOSOPHY. formation had shaken the ancient empire of superstition to its foundation. John of Salsbury, Roger Bacon, Gilbert, and Copernicus preceded him ; Galileo and Kepler were his con- temporaries. The Novum Organon must, therefore, be con- sidered as a manifestation, rather than a cause, of the philo- sophic spirit which, about that time, simultaneously burst forth. We must remember, too, that Gilbert, Galileo, and others had recognized the inductive, as the true method of investigation, before the appearance of Bacon's great work, as Gall did afterwards, before knowing of its existence. But, though the principle of induction had been recog- nized, to Bacon belongs the great honour of placing it, by his noble ardour and giant power, in deserved pre-eminence, as the true, the only method in which nature can be so ques- tioned, as to induce her to reveal her hidden agencies and laws of action. He destroyed for ever, the philosophic pre- tensions of those who essayed to explain natural pheno- mena by reasoning on conjecture. And, by showing the nobleness of their employment, who were laboriously en gaged in minutely investigating and comparing particular phenomena, he forced the curl from the pedant's lip, and the scowl from the bigot's brow. It may be truly said that the dawn of the new philosophy had before appeared, but that " day waited" for Verulam. As the glory and utility of logic depend on its not being merely a mode of reasoning, but the mode in which all cor- rect reasoning must be performed,* so do the glory and * See Elements of Logic by Archbishop Whately, book iv. chap. I. To those who, with Menage, define logic to be " The art of talking unit> telligibly on things of which we are ignorant," I would recommend a perusal of the above admirable work. Logic has been abused by its pre- tended friends, and has therefore been denounced. Thus it is ever: the world, in its hurry to condemn, stops not to discriminate between the true uses of a thing, and the purposes to which it is applied ; but visits upon the poor abused fact, or principle, the punishment due only to its abusers. Thus has it been with Phrenology. Many, for lucre's sake THE BACONIAN PHILOSOPHY. 21 utility of the Baconian method depend on its not being merely a mode, but the mode in which all discoveries must be made and established. By induction we ascertain the truth or falsehood of premises ; by logic, whether, from the premises, the announced conclusion is fairly deduceable. By the former we become acquainted with the previ- ously unknown, by the latter we draw particular conclu- sions from general propositions, the truth of which is ac- knowledged. By means of the inductive philosophy, man, in these lat- ter days, has been able to draw aside the veil of the inner temple, and become on " intimate terms with nature." To it, chiefly, does this owe its superiority over the dark ages, for it cannot be supposed that all at once the human intellect gathered vigour, and emerged from childhood to manhood. No ; ithad in its waywardness become " in wandering mazes lost," and though vast powers were often times displayed, yet as they were displayed in weaving webs of subtlety and conjecture, nothing was achieved. Like the arts of the posture master,suchdisplays of intellectual power were won- derful, but of small profit, and, by enlightened reason, could be accounted only as " fantastic tricks." The induc- tive philosophy brought men into the true path, and in that path, advancement was not, as before, a departure from truth, but progress in it. No wonder, then, that we have surpassed our fathers, for, as Bacon well observes, even " a cripple in the right way may beat a racer in the wrong." To this philosophy, then, do we owe the establishment of Phrenology, a science pregnant with more important influ- have dragged our noble science through the mire, by pretending to teach what they have never learned, and to determine the value of develop ments, of the significance of which they were ignorant. Phrenologists have ever been the first to warn the community against these self-styled friends, but worst of foes, and yet, in public and in private, have the cru- dities and mal-practices of these men been identified with the cause of Phrenology. 22 i)R. gall's character. ences than the revelations of Galileo, of Harvey, or of Newton ; making known as it does, the material instruments of mentality, unfolding as it does, the moral and intellectual constitution of man, and exposing as it does, the secret springs of thought and impulses of action ; furnishing man with a middle term, which will enable him, as it were, to throw his own and external nature into one mighty syllo- gism, and educe human duty and human destiny. The day is not far distant when it will be acknowledged by all, that no doctrines were ever established on a more extensive induction of rigidly scrutinized and verified facts, than were those of Gall. The length of time which he allowed to elapse between their dawn and promulgation ; his entire devotion of life and property to their investiga- tion ; the bold but truth-loving spirit ; the profound, com- prehensive, discriminative, and practical understanding, every where manifested in his writings, place him at the antipodes of those speculative geniuses, who spend their lives in weaving webs of sophistry for the entanglement of human reason. To make this evident, to show in a man- ner satisfactory to all candid minds, that phrenology is a discovery, not an invention, that its doctrines are but the crowning stones to pyramids of facts, is the object of the present essay. From his earliest youth, Francois Joseph Gall, remarked that his brothers and sisters, his play-fellows and school- mates, manifested great diversity of disposition and talent, notwithstanding similarity of education and external cir- cumstances. Some were remarkable for their attachment to, some for their disregard of truth ; some were peaceable, others quarrelsome ; some modest, others arrogant ; some shone in composition, others had a harsh dry style ; some excelled in calculation, others c,ould not learn or compre- hend the multiplication table. He remarked, too, that there was great uniformity in the character of each indi* gall's first organic discovery. 23 vidual. No one remarkable for goodness one year, be- came remarkable for wickedness the next ; no one remark- ably arrogant and rude, did be ever know to become very humble and complaisant. He was thus impressed with the notion, that the dispositions, or original tendencies of the mind, are innate. At the age of nine years* he first noticed a connection between prominent eyes and verbal memory. With the cause of that prominence he was then unacquainted, but afterwards ascertained it to be the predominant size of a certain cerebral convolution, which, by pressing on the pos- terior part of the superior orbital plate, pushed the eye out- wards. This was the first observation which led the youthful philosopher to seek for external signs of the mental faculties. And let not a smile of incredulity play upon the lips be- cause of Gall's early age. Mozart began to compose at the age of four years. Handel, almost as soon as he could speak. Colburn, at six, astonished the world by the ra- pidity with which he performed intricate arithmetical cal- culations. At twelve, Pope wrote his " Ode on Solitude." At thirteen, Wren had formed an ingenious machine to represent the course of the stars. At sixteen, Pascal pub- lished a work on conic sections. At the same age, Michael Angelo had executed works which were compared to those of antiquity. Newton, at twenty-five, had completed some of his most brilliant discoveries, and originated all he ever made. So true is the observation of Gall, that " from in- fancy man announces the character which will distinguish him in adult age." Nor let the seemingly trifling observa- , tion which he first made excite derision. It is the i glory of genius to detect, in the every day phenomena of 2 life, the clews to mighty principles. Thus, Pythagoras, . from listening to a blacksmith's hammer, made a most bril- it liant discovery in acoustics. Galileo deduced the use of the i< * Chenevix. 24 FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF PHRENOLOGY. pendulum, as a pulse and time measurer, from observing the oscillations of a lamp, swinging from the cathedral roof at Pisa. From noticing the phenomena presented by soap bubbles, Newton caught the first hint to some of his great- est optical discoveries, and from noticing the fall of an ap- ple, he was led to unravel the subtle bond of the universe. It would be pleasant and instructive to follow Gall throughout his career of doubt, and difficulty, and dis- covery, and persecution, and noble self-reliance, and ulti- mate triumph ; but space will not suffice, and I must hasten to show, more in detail, the spirit and mode in which phre- nological investigations have been prosecuted, and the kind of evidence on which phrenological doctrines rest. As preliminary to this, let us state some fundamental truths of phrenology, referring to the lectures for the proofs on which they rest. 1. The mental powers of man are innate, and their talents and dispositions are discoverable by observation. 2. By means of the brain, all the mental powers arc manifested. 3. The mental manifestations result from various dis- tinct mental powers ; and ought, therefore, to have their seat in distinct parts of the brain. 4. Men differ much in their power of manifesting the various mental qualities ; and brains differ much in size and form. 5. The outer surface of the head so nearly corresponds to the outer surface of the brain, that the size and form of the latter, are indicated by the size and form of the former. 6. By a comparison of mental manifestations in indi- viduals of all varieties of age, station, talents, and disposi- tion, with their cerebral developement, the seats of various mental oigans have been clearly ascertained. 7. Size, other things being equal, is the measure of power ; consequently, phrenologists are able to tell from LOVE OF YOUNG. 25 the size of an organ, its power of manifestation ; and from the energy of its manifestation, its relative size. I said that I would show more in detail, the spirit and mode, in which phrenological investigations have been prosecuted, and the kind of evidence, on which phrenologi- cal doctrines rest. To do this, I shall adduce the proofs of an organ, which may be readily observed. Perhaps none has been established by such an overwhelming ac- cumulation of facts, as that of Amativeness ; but, for obvious reasons, the facts are inadmissible in this essay. I, there- fore, refer the professional reader to Gall's article contain- ed in the third volume of his work, " Sur les Fonctions du cerveau, did she supplicate her employers ; in vain represent that she had served them with exemplary assiduity and fidelity; she saw herself, on account of this child, again houseless in the severest season of the year. All the other rich peo- ple treated her with the same harshness, she met with no other poor and hospitable villager. She wandered from place to place, selling her garments to satisfy her hunger and that of her child, finding no where either refuge or succour. The child was wasting away ; overcome and enfeebled by hunger and pain, she implored death for this miserable being and herself, as the only relief to their suf- ferings. In this struggle, between maternal love for her child, who was almost dying with hunger and cold, and the conviction that its destruction was the only means of saving herself; hopeless of compassion from mankind, in a moment of delirium, she seized the wretched child, and dropped him into the river, where death soon relieved his sorrows. Exhausted by weakness, the mother fainted, and was found in this state ; on recovery, she immediately accused herself of the crime, and was arrested. She was condemned to be beheaded, but, on account of the attend- ing circumstances, her punishment was commuted for im- prisonment during life. In prison she behaved with great attention, gentleness, and docility. She learned to read witli extraordinary facility, and she seizes with readiness whatever is taught her." In this case, the crime led Gall to expect small love of off- spring and large destructiveness ; he found the reverse, but confiding in the truth of his doctrines, he fearlessly an- nounced the seeming contradiction. How well the recital of the magistrates justified his confidence ! 36 LOVE OP YOUNG. Proofs drawn from a state of disease, in favour of the pro- position that the portion of the brain before described, is the organ on which the manifestation of the Love op Young depends. CASE I. In the great hospital of Vienna, there was a woman who had a singular delirium. She believed herself to be preg- nant with six children. Gall was told of this, and attributed it partly to extraordinary development of the organ of love of offspring, and partly to its over excitement. The woman died. The skull was sent to Gall, who found this part so very voluminous, that M. Rudolphi, the celebrated physi- ologist, attempted to account for the protuberance, by some supposed pressure. — GalVs Works, Vol. III. p. 285. CASE II. At Paris, Gall professionally attended, for a mental dis- ease, a very amiable and modest young lady, who, after- wards accompanied some friends to Vienna. She had hardly arrived there, before she visited all her acquaintance, and informed them with the most lively joy, that she was pregnant. This declaration, taken in connection with her known character, convinced her friends that she was insane. Her immoderate joy soon gave place to violent anguish, and an invincible and melancholy taciturnity. Shortly after this she died a victim to consumption. Here, again, the organ of the love of offspring was extremely developed, and, during life, this lady had singularly loved children. — GalVs Works, Vol. III. p. 286. CASE III. Gall saw in the insane hospital of Amsterdam, a lady who incessantly talked like the last mentioned one. Her head was small. The organ of the love of offspring being alone very much developed. — GalVs Works, Vol. III. p. 287. LOVE OP YOUNG. 37 CASE IV. A man in an insane hospital maintained that he was about to be delivered of twins. Gall declared that he must have the organ in question very much developed. An exam- ination proved it to be so. — GalVs Works, Vol. III. p. 286. case v. " I have seen," says Spurzheim, " several insane women, who fancied themselves with child, and they had the re- spective organ elevated" — On Insanity : Boston, p. 108. CASE VI. 11 1 saw, April 1836, a woman in a Lunatic Asylum," says Mr. Combe, " who thought her children stolen. She fell on her knees to the superintendent, screaming with agony, and imploring that they might be restored, with a depth of wo, which I could never have conceived it possi- ble to express. In her head the organ was very large." CASE VII. 11 1 attended some time ago," says Dr. Combe, " the mother of a family, in a state of delirium, characterized by intense anxiety and alarm about the supposed murder of her children, and who, on being asked, after her recovery, what were her sensations during the paroxysm, applied her hand to the region of the organ of philoprogenitiveness, and said, that she was conscious of nothing except severe pain in that part of the head. She was unacquainted with phrenology, and never had heard the subject mentioned by me, so that her statement was perfectly unbiassed." — On Mental Derangement : Boston ed. p. 156. Many other cases are on record, in which love of off- spring has been deranged, but, as the development of the organ is not mentioned, they only so far bear upon the present subject, as to show that this feeling may be singly or chiefly affected. Pinel mentions a mother who had been distinguished for great attachment to her family, and whom 38 LOVE OF YOUNG. domestic troubles had thrown into profound melancholy. She regarded the food that was offered to her, as the por- tion of her children, and rejected it with indignation. — On Mental Alienation, second ed. p. 296. A native of the South Sea Islands, having had a child taken from her to make a sacrifice to a barbarous idol, went mad, and in consequence, becoming very troublesome, her countrymen killed her. — Burrow'' s Commentaries, p. 22. Proof that the portion of brain before described, is the organ of the Love of Young, drawn from its growth under excite- ment It is known, and admitted, by all physiologists, that even after persons have arrived at adult age, the different parts of the body often become enlarged by well regulated exer- cise ; the same occasionally happens in different parts of the brain — thus, Napoleon's head much enlarged in cer- tain directions after he first entered the army. Broussais, the great French physiologist states, that, within two or three years that he was engaged in deep reflection, and ar- gumentative study, his organ of causality so much increased that the difference was perceptible by measurement. Mr. Kirtleyrecords a case in which the attention of a mother was concentrated on her children for a length of time, on account of their sickness, till she began to feel an interest in them never before experienced. This excitement of the love of offspring, was, necessarily, accompanied by increas- ed vascular action, in the corresponding organ, and this resulted in the permanently increased development of the part before designated. — See Edinburgh Phrenological Journal, Vol. X. No. 51. Here we might rest the case, but, as objections have been made, let us briefly notice them. Objection. A mother's love for her offspring is the result of reason. LOVE OF YOUNG. 39 AHswer. " Reason only investigates causes and effects, and decides on a comparison of facts. The mother, while she smiles with ineffable joy on her tender offspring, does not argue herself into the delightful emotion. The excite- ment is instantaneous; the object requires only to be pre- sented to her eye or imagination, and the whole impetus of parental love stirs the mind. Hence a feeling or pro- pensity is obviously the basis of the affection." — (Combe.) Besides, it " often acts in opposition to reason in spoiling children." — (Spurzheim.) And w r e find it in full energy among the most intellectual of mankind, and the most ferocious brutes. Objection. Love of offspring arises from kindness and benevolence of disposition. Ansiver. Were this the case, no selfish person should be fond of children; but, persons noted for ferocity and blood- thirstiness, are often strongly attached to their offspring. The Charibs, the most unfavourably or- ganized of human beings, and whom all travellers represent as totally un- regulated either by intel- lect or benevolence, have this feeling decidedly strong, and the organ is as decidedly developed. This the accompa- nying figure will show. Captain Parry says that love of offspring is almost the only amiable feeling that the Esquimaux Indians possess, but that they pos- sess it in a remarkable de- gree. He met and reliev- ed a party of them, who were without food and almost dying with hun- 40 LOVE OP YOUNG. ger; the first thing they did was to feed their children, ne- glecting themselves till they were fully satisfied. In them the organ is greatly developed (see outline). Again, this feeling is not less strong in the eagle, or tiger, than in the most gentle and docile of animals. Objection. The love of offspring is proportionate to the feeling of amativeness. Answer. Amativeness is strongest in males, whereas the love of offspring is the strongest in females. Objection. The love of offspring is the mere result of in- stinct. Answer. It may be admitted that love of offspring is an instinct, but then it does not the less require to be manifest- ed through a distinct cerebral organ. Objection. " A mother does not love her infant, because she has a protuberance, but because it makes, or has made, a part of her happiness." — Journal of the Empire, and Dictionary of Medical Sciences^ Vol. XXI. p. 210. Answer. Children make a part of her happiness, because her organization fits her to receive pleasure from them. The proper activity of an organ being always pleasurable- Objection. " A mother loves her child from the pains it has cost her, and the dangers she has been exposed to on its account." — Journal of the Empire. Answer. Like causes produce like effects. And for the same reason, she should love a dog because it had bitten her, a bee because it had stung her, or a horse because, by its vicious turbulence, it had endangered her life. Objection. But, we find mothers who love one of their children, much more than the others ; how can this be ex- plained on the supposition of love of offspring depending on a blind impulsion 1 Answer. Phrenologists always take the whole organiza- tion into consideration. A mother will naturally love that child most, which is most pleasing to her other faculties. Independent, of this, however, Mr. Scott, Mr. Combe, and LOVE OP YOUNG. 41 other phrenologists have remarked, that the direction of the feeling hears a reference to the weakness or helplessness of its objects, that " the mother doats with the fondest delight on the infant in the first months of its existence, and her solicitude and affection are bestowed longest, and most in- tensely, on the feeblest member of her family." Objection. Love of offspring is manifestly a modification of self-love. Answer. Then should parental affection be weak, in pro- portion as generosity is strong ; and strong, in proportion as generosity is weak ; which is evidently not the case. Vie have now shown that the organ of the love of young is always present, and that the corresponding feeling is al- ways present ; that the organ is largest in females, and that the feeling is strongest in females ; that the size of the organ varies in animals of the same species and sex, and that the strength of the feeling varies correspondingly ; that when the manifestation of the feeling is disordered, pain is felt in the organ ; that where hallucination of the feeling exists, the organ is generally very large ; that in child murderers, it is generally very small ; that when the feeling has been called into long continued manifestation, the organ has increased in size ; that such is the intimate correspon- dence between manifestation and development, that where one is known, the other may be inferred. Here we close our case, deeming the evidence adduced more than suffi- cient to establish our position. We now say to the antiphrenologist, there is, there can be no way to avoid our conclusions, except by showing that we have borne false witness, and to attempt this, you will have to question nature, who, if questioned, will, we know full well, confirm the truth of our testimony. Until you have s^ questioned nature, maintain not tha we are false, because you are ignorant ; that light exists not, because you refuse to see. The King of Siam, ac- cused the Dutch traveller of falsehood, for affirming, that, in 4* 42 ADVICE TO INVESTIGATORS. Holland, water sometimes becomes solid. You accuse us of falsehood, for maintaining that the mental faculties are manifested through distinct cerebral organs, the power of which may be proximately estimated from cerebral devel- opment. You blame the King of Siam for injustice — though the congelation of water was entirely at variance with his experience, and beyond the range of his observa- tion — yet denounce us, though our proofs are numerous as the heads of men ! To the sincere seeker after truth, we would earnestly re- commend observation. Do not, we pray you, sit down to argue against facts Avhen you may so readily observe. Such a course is as useless as it is absurd. The orgaa which has been described, is one of the most easily distinguishable. Compare then, with reference to this point, the heads of your male and female acquaintance, especially the heads of such as manifest the feeling strongly, and such as mani- fest it weakly. Compare the skulls of males and females in anatomical collections, and the skulls of animals of vari- ous species, and of both sexes. Do this candidly, nay, with prejudice if you please, so that you do it carefully, and our word for it, the sneer and shrug of pedantry, or self-conceit, the denunciations of bigotry, and the forebodings of weak- ness and superstition will never be able to uproot the con- viction from your mind, that phrenology is true : and being true, is it not of God, the fountain of all truth 1 Having satisfied yourself of one fact, proceed cautiously but perse- veringly, and human nature will gradually unfold itself to your mental vision, in all its beautiful simplicity ; your views of man will be enlarged, of providence corrected, and of the great moral teachings of Christianity demonstrably confirmed. It appears to me that the " In medio tutissimus ibis" or middle course principle, has been much more lauded than it deserves. A middle course ! where is there such a course 1 To a greater or less extent, whatever is not right THE MIDDLE COURSE PRINCIPLE. 43 is wrong — whatever is not just is unjust — whatever is not honourable is dishonourable — whatever is not temperate is intemperate — whatever is not true is false. Now, the path of right, of justice, of honour, of temperance, of truth, is not a middle, but the narrow and only path of true philoso- phy and virtue. In medio tutissimus ibis is gently syllabled forth, and individual heroism becomes withered. And to take a firm stand for some broad and momentous, but un- popular principle, urge its importance, and attempt its pro- mulgation, is considered sufficient proof of hallucination. The absurdity of the "middle course" men, is finely illus- trated by their expressions concerning phrenology ; you hear them remarking every day, " The general principles are no doubt true, but the details are ridiculously absurd." Now, as a general truth is merely a truth common to many individuals, if the details be false, the general principle must be so too. It is as impossible that any accumulation of falsities should constitute atruth, as that the simultaneous infliction of various torments should harmonize into exqui- site delight. It may be truly said, that the light of every natural truth exists at all times in the atmosphere of mind ; but, as the natural light seems not to exist till the eye receives it, so the light of truth seems a nonentity, till it meets with some human mind, which has a correspondence with itself. It exists from creation's dawn, but not till then does it become known. From this mind it shines forth as from a sun ; and as natural light is affected by the body on which it falls, and the medium through which it passes, so as the light of truth radiates to other minds, it becomes bright- ened, dimmed, or darkened. Thus, the truths of phrenology had ever existed, but had never been clearly recognized till the coming of Gall. In him they found the fittest medium perhaps, that ever was ; he gave himself to their reception with singleness of heart, and to their transmission with un- paralleled ardour. His light radiated to Spurzheim and 44 THE RECEPTION OF NEW TRUTHS. Combe, and became increased and purified ; to Cuvier,and it became dimmed ;toGordon, and it became a baleful and affrighting glare. Blessed is he who receives the light, and transmits it purified to his neighbour. But awful is the conduct of him, who turns the light of truth to the dark- ness of error, prejudice and superstition; who, being made a recipient of good, becomes a transmitter of evil. Is it true ? is the only rational question on any scientific proposition ; and the answer must be either in the affirma- tive or negative. Suppose a proposition to be false, to de- cide that it is so without investigation, is childish and pre- sumptuous. The really laudable thing is the search, and the impartial manner of conducting it. But how rare this attention and impartiality ! That the world is slow to practice goodness, all allow, it is almost equally back- ward to receive light. Every individual seems to concen- trate his thoughts, and limit his view, to a certain sphere. Some spheres are greater, indeed, than others, but it is true of almost every man, that if you try to draw his atten- tion to something beyond his particular sphere, he is roused to passion, by what he is pleased to deem impertinent in- terference. Men, like dogs, seem each to have a bone to which they are paying exclusive attention. Try to with- draw that attention, and you are rewarded by a snap and a snarl. And as in the case of the dog, so in that of man, the scraggiest bone is generally the most fiercely clung to, and the most vigorously defended. Let it not be supposed that we admire men in proportion to their facility of belief, we hold credulity in low estima- tion. Let it not be supposed that we admire those who pass from a first, or second lecture, stoutly declaring themselves to be phrenologists. It would be as modest to declare themselves astronomers, because they had learned that there is only an apparent, not a real, daily revolution of the sun round the earth ; or, to declare themselves geometricians, because they had learned that " two lines which are parallel DR. VIMONT. 45 to a third, are parallel to each other." What we do admire, is a mind imbued with the love of truth and goodness. What we ask for, is rigid scrutiny, candid investigation, and that men will not decide against us before examining evidence. Grant this, and we fear not the result — for, whoever examines, believes. This is confirmed by the whole history of phrenology, and, with a single instance, in illustration, I close the present essay. In 1818, the Royal Institute of France offered a prize, to the author of the best memoir on the anatomy of the brain, in the four classes of the vertebral animals. Attracted by this, Dr. Vimont, of Caen, commenced researches without reference to phrenology ; indeed, he had not read Gall, and had only heard of him as a charlatan. However, as Gall had written upon the subject of his researches, he thought it incumbent on him to read his work among others. 41 Hardly," says he, " had I begun to read it, when I found that I had to do with one of those extraordinary men, whom dark envy endeavours to exclude from the rank to which their genius calls them, and against whom it em- ploys the arms of the coward and the hypocrite. High cerebral capacity, profound penetration, good sense, varied information, were the qualities which struck me as dis- liuguishing Gall. The indifference which I first felt for his writings, soon gave way to the most profound veneration." — Introduction, p. 14. Vimont commenced investigations into the phrenology of brutes, and continued them with extraordinary perseve- rance. In 1827, he presented to the Institute, a memoir containing a fragment of the researches on which he had spent so many years, together with two thousand five hun- dred heads of brutes of various classes, orders, genera, and species. Among these, fifteen hundred had belonged to brutes, with whose habits, he had been individually well acquainted before they died or were killed. He presented four hundred wax representations of the brain, modelled 46 RECAPITULATION. after nature, and an atlas of more than three hundred fig- ures of the brain and cranium, having expended upwards of twelve thousand francs in procuring specimens. The work in which he now sets forth his observations, is illus- trated by an atlas of one hundred arid twenty plates, con- taining six hundred figures. I have seen an inferior edition, published at Brussels, but not the work itself. The plates are said to be exquisite, and to surpass, in accuracy of di- mensions, any thing before attempted in anatomy. Dr. El- liotson remarks, that " if the immense mass of proofs of phrenology from the human head, and the facts pointed out by Gall, in brutes, are not sufficient to convince the most prejudiced, the additional multitude amassed by Dr. Vi- mont will overwhelm them."* I have now shown briefly, the aberrations of the human understanding, and the darkness in which it became invol- ved, previous to the recognition of the Baconian, as the only true method of investigation. 1 have briefly endea voured to illustrate that method, its vast utility and impor- tance ; and to prove, that by the rigid application of its rules, the principles of phrenology have been elaborated from nature. I have shown that, in doing this, there has been no mere conjectures, no anticipation of facts, no castle- building, nor system making. But that phrenologists have proceeded in exact accordance with the order of the in- tellectual faculties. Like the bee, which, as Lord Bacon observes, first gathers matter from the fields and gardens, and then digests it and prepares it for use by its own native powers, they have laboriously and carefully gathered facts from a vast field of observation ; these they have rigidly compared and classified, have noticed their multifarious relationships, and detected the dependence of mental facul- ties for manifestation on certain recognizable material or- gans and conditions, which they have described and ex- * Elliotson's Physiology, 5th ed. p. 406. RECAPITULATION. 47 plained. In doing this, I have proceeded, somewhat at length, through the proofs on which we rest our belief in the existence of an organ, by, and through which, alone, love of young is manifested. — Proofs sufficiently strong, if joined with the necessary personal investigation, to sweep away ail doubt, and overwhelm all opposition. I have, finally, endeavoured to illustrate the folly and presumption of those who decide without evidence, and erect themselves into oracles. And to impress upon all, that it is the duty of man to listen eagerly for the voice of truth, and whether it be heard in an appeal from without, or be heard, like the 11 still small voice" of conscience, arising in the hour of thoughtful meditation, from the depths of the soul, that whenever, wherever, however, it be heard, for him it is to follow its dictates with assurance of unerring guidance. SKETCH OP THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND PRESENT CONDITION, OP PHRENOLOGY. On no subject has there been a greater diversity of opin- ion, than on the functions of the brain. It has been re- garded as a sponge, attracting to itself the humidity of tin body ; as a cold, humid mass, destined to temper the heat of the heart ; as a mere excresence of the spinal marrow ; as a prolongation of the blood vessels ; as a collection of confused intestines ; as a gland secreting an impure fluid ; and even Bichat saw in it nothing more than an envelope, destined to secure the parts on the internal base of the brain !* * See Gall. Vol. ii. j Introduction. 48 ANCIENT OPINIONS ON THE BRAIN. From the earliest recorded time however, there have been those whose views more nearly approximated to truth. Though these views can be considered merely as fortunate conjectures, mixed up with gross absurdities. It is remarkable, as Ehrenberg observes,* that 500 years before the Christian era, (and no historical record ascends higher,) Pythagoras, to whom the existence of nerves was unknown, should maintain that the brain is the chief seat of the souJ, and the seat of the intellect.! In the treatise on Epilepsy, erroneously ascribed to Hippocrates, it is assert- ed that by the brain we think and perceive, see and hear, and distinguish the base from the honourable, and the bad from the good, adding that its disorder produces frightful dreams, panic terrors, and even mental derangement. J We find that the multiplex character of the brain has had its advocates. St. Gregory compared the brain to a city with many gates and a number of streets. Nemesius taught that sensation has its seat in the anterior, memory in the middle, and understanding in the posterior ventricles. Ah bertus Magnus, in the thirteenth century, delineated a head on which he indicated the fancied seats of the different mental powers. Peter de 3Iontagnana, and John Rohan de Retham, in 1491 and 1500, published others. Bernard Gor- don, and Ludovico Dolci, a Venetian, published similar de- lineations. Servito, Willis, Bonnet, Boerhaave, Haller,and Prochaska maintained the doctrine of plurality of organs in the brain. Again, an obscure notion that some degree of correspon- dence exists between the size of the head and the mental character, has existed for ages. The ancient sculptors rep- resented their highly intellectual men and gods with large heads, and their mere fighting men, and unintellectual dei- ties with small ones. This was doubtless the result of ob- * On the structure of the nervous system ; sec. 1. t Diogenes Laert. viii ; 30. JDr. Craigie. ANCIENT OPINIONS ON THE BRAIN. 49 serving that large size is most frequently the accompani- ment of intellectual antl moral greatness. Thus they had to represent Pericles as wearing a helmet to hide the extra- ordinary size of his head, and Plutarch relates of him that he might he seen sitting in the street fatigued by its enor- mous weight; at other times, remarks the biographer, thun- der and lightning issued from this monstrous head with a tremendous noise. Compare the head of Bacchus with that of Jupiter, the one with a relatively small head, the other with an enormous one. Compare the head of Venus with that of Minerva, great difference exists. But the form of the head has also been recognized as bearing a relation to the mental character. It is remarka- ble, observes Dr. EJliotson,* that Aristotle in his Physiog- nomy, though he gives a number of ridiculous signs of character from the face and numerous parts of the body, gives three only from the cranium, but those three are in strict accordance with Phrenology. " Those who have a large head are sagacious, are like dogs ;f those who have a small head are stupid, are like asses ; those who have a conical head have no shame, are like birds with curved claws." It is no less remarkable, that one of each of these points is spoken of, by each of the three greatest poets : " His fair large front and eye sublime declare Absolute rule." — Milton's Paradise Lost, b. iv. •Hum. Phys.5ed. 370. t Yet Dr. Sewell says, " While Aristotle regarded the brain as multi- plex, he considered a small head as the standard of perfection.' — (Exam. of Phrenology, p. 121.) On this Dr. Caldwell remarks, u - 1 do not be- lieve that Aristotle has pronounced a small head an evidence of ■ supe- rior intellect,' because I have been unable to find the assertion in his ori- ginal works — I mean his works in his native tongue. T have carefully looked through his philosophical writings for the sentiment X\\ f;ne«ti*0, but looked in vain. — Phrenology Vindicated, p. 30 5 50 OPINIONS OF DR. BENJAMIN RUSH. " I will have none on't; we shall lose our time And all be turned to barnacles or to apes With foreheads villanoiisly low — Tempest, Activ. sc. I. Homer gives the basest fellow who went to Troy a conical head — a miserable development of the seat of the moral sentiments. Compare the statue of the Gladiator with that of Jupi- ter, and you will find the one with a low, retreating fore- head, thick neck and wide basilar region ; the other with a forehead truly magnificent, piled up and spread out, a worthy ideal temple for the all comprehending intellect of the " father of Gods and the king of men." " The nearest approach," says Mr. Combe, " to Gall's discovery which has come under my notice, is one that the opponents of phrenology have not referred to. It is con- tained in an inquiry into the influence of physical causes upon the moral faculty, delivered by Dr. Benjamin Rush, before a meeting of the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia on the 27th of February, 1786. In this inquiry coming discoveries may be said to have cast their shadows before, and Dr. Rush, by observing and faith- fully recording the phenomena of Nature, has brought to light several important truths, which have since been con- firmed and elucidated by phrenology, in a manner that evinces, on his part, extraordinary depth and perspicacity of intellect, combined with the highest moral qualities."* In this essay Dr. Rush powerfully maintains, that over the manifestations of the mind, physical causes have a most important influence. Of the peculiar features of Phrenolo- gy, however, the distinctness of the cerebral organs 5 and the possibility of estimating their force by external develop- ments, he takes no notice. It appears to me, that no author had approached more * An Inquiry, &c, with an introductory notice, by George Combe, Philadelphia, 1839. OPINIONS OF SWEDENBORG. 51 nearly to the doctrines of Gall than Emanuel Swedenborg, the sincere, amiable, and highly moral and intellectual vis- ionary of Sweden, who was born in 1689, and who died in 1772. Throughout his voluminous writings, allusions to the dependence of the mental faculties on material condi- tions continually occur. To enable the Phrenologist to judge of their value, I shall present some of them in a connected form. Brain the organ of Mind. " That the principles or beginnings of life are in the brains is manifest. 1. From sense itself, in that when a man applies his mind to any thing and thinks, he perceives that he thinks in the brain, he draws inwardly as it were, with his eyesight, and keeps his forehead intense, and perceives that there is inwardly a speculation, chiefly within the fore- head, and somewhat above. * * * 4th. That when the brain is hurt either in the womb, or by a wound, or by dis- ease, or by too great application, thought is debilitated, and sometimes the mind is delirious. 5th. That all the external senses of the body, which are the sight, hearing, smell, taste, together with the general sense, which is the feeling, as also the speech, are in the anterior part of the head, which is called the face, and have immediate communica- tion by fibres with the brain, and derive thence their sensi- tive and active life."* u It is there (the brain) also whence come the thoughts, which are of the understanding, and the affections which are of the will."t " For the brain, where the mind of man is, hath respect to the ends of the body."f * Divine Love and Divine Wisdom, Latin, Amsterdam, 1763. Eng- lish, Boston, 1835. No. 362. t Arcana Coelestia. No. 4042. X Idem. No. 4054, et passim. 52 OPNIIONS OP SWEDENBORG. 11 Every one skilled in anatomy may see, that round about the cerebrum, also within it, and in the cerebellum, and in the spinal marrow, there are little spheres like dots, called the cortical and cineritious substances and glands, and that all the fibres whatsoever in the brains, and all the nerves derived from them throughout the body, come forth and proceed from those little spheres or substances. * * * The eye does not see from itself, but by what is continuous from the understanding, for the understanding sees by the eye, and also moves by the eye, determines it to the ob- jects, and gives intensity to sight. * * * In like man- ner the muscles, these not being moved of themselves, but from the will together with the understanding, which actu- ate them at their own disposal ; from which considerations, it is evident, that there is not any thing in the body which feels and is moved of itself, but from its origins, in which reside the understanding and will, consequently, which are in man the receptacles of love and wisdom, whilst the or- gans both of sense and motion, are forms derived from them.*" Influence of the Brain on Mental Operations. "Many suppose that the perceptions and cogitations of the mind, (as being spiritual things,) present themselves to us naked and destitute of all organized forms ; but this is ow- ing to their ignorance of the formation and offices of the brain, with the various intertextures and convolutions in its cineritious and medullary substances, its different glands, sinews and partitions, and numberless imperceptible fibril- lee, and these invested with its meninges and matres, (dura and pia,) all which afford infinite materials and receptacles to the mind for the configuration of ideas. Now upon the good condition of these parts depends the soundness of the * Divine Love and Divine Wisdom, p. 66. See also Universal The- ology, No. 351, and Arcana Ccelestia, No. 4040. opinions of swi:di:nrorg. 5<> intellectual operations, and the regular determination of the will in this our natural state, so that a man is deemed rational or moral in proportion to the right organization of the mental forms ; for the rational sight of man, which is the understan- ding can no more be said to exist here in this outward world without organs properly adapted to the reception of spiritual light, than the bodily sight to exist without eyes."* Distinct Facidties of the Mind have distinct Organs of the Brain, and Mental activity affects the form of the Skull. " Every man that is born has a disposition to all sorts of evil, which must be checked by education, and as far as possible, rooted out. This is first to be attempted by cor- rection and punishment, then by good society and exam- ple, which leads to imitation ; and at last, good is secured upon a true and reasonable religious root. When these conditions are all observed, it is indicated by the beautiful skull of the individual. On the " contrary, should the education be neglected, or no sudden misfortune, or opposition, hinder the first outbreakings of evil, or dis- order, the evil afterwards becomes habit, and produces peculiar wishes, both in design and practice, which cause the formation of a badly shaped skull. The cause of the difference of skulls, in such cases, is this : The peculiar distinctions of man, will and understanding, have their seats in the brain, which is excited by the fleeting desires of the will, and the ideas of the intellect. Near the vari- ous spots where these irritations produce their effects, this or that part of the brain is called into a greater or less degree of activity, and forms along with itself correspond- ing parts of the skuhV't * Treatise on the nature of influx, by E. S. Boston, 1794, p. 72. 1 1 have not met with this passage in Swedenborg's writings, but it is quoted by Dr. Sewell in his Ex. of Phren., p. 12, from a memoir of Swedenborg, by Capt. Walden; Copenhagen, 1806. 5* 54 GALL A DISCOVERER. On account of these things a few captious writers have endeavoured to lessen, if not destroy, the merit of Gall as a discoverer; an attempt of which that noble spirit now recks not, and which can have no effect on the truth or utility of Phrenology. Still we remind such objectors that Giordano Bruno had said " that it is by no means impro- bable that there are other planets revolving round our own sun, which we have not noticed, either on account of their minute size or remote distance," yet this detracts not from the merit of Herschel. Some had expressed confused no- tions concerning the circulation of the blood ; yet we al- low not this to tarnish the honours of Harvey. Bacon sug- gested that there may be some kind of magnetic influence operating by consent between the earth and heavy bodies, the moon and the waters of the sea, the starry heavens and the planets ; yet we strip not Newton of his crown. Ba- con had said that it seemed to him incredible that the rays of celestial bodies can instantaneously pass to us, and that he suspected that the stars are not seen by us in their true situations ; yet we do not consider this as diminishing the merit of Dr. Bradley, the prover of the aberration of light. Bacon conjectured, that air might be converted into water by condensation ; yet Biot's fame is not on this account les- sened. A few farmers had long been acquainted with the efficacy of cow pox matter ; yet this did not preclude Jen- ner from a parliamentary reward, and a world's grati- tude. So others darkly guessed, at what Gall clearly pro- ved. He was not content with guessing ; he demonstra- ted, by laborious investigation and rigid induction. He travelled from city to city, teaching and extending his ob- servations : he devoted to the task his property, his talents, his energies for many years, steadily pursuing his course amid laughter, mockery and vituperation. Columbus like, he lay not supinely on his back, vaguely conjecturing that beyond the vast and trackless ocean might lie some rich and undiscovered country. No ; despite the " Gorgons, hydras, MEASURE OF MENTAL CAPACITY. 5j5 and chimeras dire," which seemed to beset his career ; des- pite the storms of opposition, the threats and forebodings of bigotry and superstition, he kept his onward course, nor rested till the anxiously sought for land beamed upon his sight — till he had planted his standard on the new, but no longer unknown, world. Nobly did he win his laurels; be it our care that not a leaf be plucked from his brow. Those physiologists who admitted the brain to be the or- gan of mind, were particularly anxious to find, by its gene- ral form, or by its relations to other parts, a measure for the intellectual faculties and the moral qualities. Of their at- tempts Gall gives a full account in the second volume of his work on the Functions of the Brain. Aristotle, Galen, and others maintained that, of all ani- mals, man had the most considerable mass of brain, and that this accounted for his superiority ; but the brain of the elephant and that of the whale are heavier. The brain of a whale in the museum of Berlin weighed 51bs. 5oz. ldr.* Cuvier and others have attempted to establish a relation between the amount of mental capacity, and the proportion of the brain to the rest of the body ; but the sparrow, the robin, the wren, and several species of monkeys, have, in proportion to the body, a much larger brain than man. Wrisberg and Soemmering concluded that of all animals, man has the largest brain in proportion to the nerves in gen- eral ; but if the monkey, the little sea dog, or many birds, be compared with him in this respect, the result will be in their favour. Cuvier, Soemmering and Ebel considered the relative pro- portion of the brain and spinal marrow as the most infalli- ble measure of the intellectual faculties. But Cuvier him- self admits that there are exceptions to this rule, and addu- ces the dolphin as an instance. Others maintained that the proportion of the brain to the ■ Miiller's Physiology, London, 1338. p. 815. 56 MEASURE OP MENTAL CAPACITY. face indicates the mental capacity. Plato, and, after him, Bichat and Richerand, maintained that there is a propor- tion between the length of the neck and the vigour of intellect, the shortest neck being the most favourable. " Here," says Gall, " the authority of Plato proves but one thing, which is, that men who enjoy great reputation ought, above all others, to avoid throwing out ideas at ran- dom ; for, however erroneous they may be, they will be repeated for centuries." In order to determine the cerebral mass, Camper drew a base line from the roots of the upper front teeth to the ex- ternal openingofthe ear ; then another straight line from the upper front teeth to the most elevated point of the forehead : according to him the intellectual faculties of the man or animal, are in direct proportion to the magnitude of the angle, made by those two lines. Lavater, with this idea for a basis, constructed a scale of perfection from the frog to the Apollo Belvidere. Cuvier furnishes a list of men and animals in support of this doctrine. But the facial angle of the same individual differs immensely at different periods of life ; and Blumenbach shows that near- ly three fourths of the animals known, have the same facial angle. Seeing then, that men were anxiously searching an indi- cation of mental capacity, and that each of the fallacious methods above enumerated was received with favour, and was copied from book to book, and from periodical to peri- odical, the respective proposers receiving in every case an increase of celebrity, on account of their proposition, it would seem likely, a priori, that Gall's discoveries would have been received with acclamation and not have been strenuously, and, in many cases, ferociously opposed and denounced. Men, on this subject, were involved in dark- ness, and when a twilight glimmer, or ignis fatuus faintly twinkled on their searching eyes, they bent towards it with eager gaze, and hailed and blessed it as the harbinger of RECEPTION OP PIIRENOLOOV. 57 day ; but when day itself beamed suddenly upon them, they closed their eyes and raved, and thus merely exchanged the darkness of midnight, for the darkness of excessive light. The history of the reception of Gall's discoveries, and of the treatment which his works and those of his immediate followers met with, from the authorities in literature and sci- ence, will ever be an interesting chapter in the annals of human civilization. Men talk largely of the superior lib- erality of the present age, and justly perhaps. This supe- riority, however, appears to me to consist in the currency of a number of opinions formerly proscribed, but which have, from time to time, burst the barriers of prejudice and bigotry, rather than in an enlarged spirit of candour to- wards opposing doctrines. To prove our greater liberality, it is not sufficient to show that we receive as true, what our ancestors rejected as false. To ascertain the liberality of Harvey's age, we do not ask whether it believed the doc- trines of Galileo, but how it received those of Harvey. To ascertain the liberality of Newton's age, we do not ask whether it believed the doctrines of Galileo and Harvey, but how it received those of Newton. So to ascertain the decree of liberality which now prevails, men, in after times, will not ask whether we accredited the doctrines of Galileo, Harvey and Newton, but how we received those of Gall. And I see not how the conclusion can be avoided, that to- wards that which is really new in kind, the present age is as intolerant as were past ages. The material rack and faggot are not, indeed, brought into requisition, because philosophers do not wield the power of the rack ; because the conviction that such applications are utterly ineffi- cacious, as suppressive measures, has forced itself, by long and horrible experience, on the minds of men. But when a profound genius, after years of anxious and un- remitting investigation, during which energy would have sunk, but for the glowing and lofty hope of benefitting the human race, brings forward a momentous discovery ; he 58 RECEPTION OF PHRENOLOGY. is met with the dark scowl of insulted pride, and against him the shafts of ridicule, the rack of sarcasm, and the fires of rage and denunciation are brought into full play. He offers to his fellow men an inestimable boon, and they turn sneeringly away, asking what " the babbler" says, waiting not for a reply. Or they mock at him and de- nounce him, and strive to blast his good name. The vio- lent cry out charlatan and scoundrel, while the pretenders to charity, in soft and silvery tones, beg that the poor un- fortunate may be excused on account of his manifest in- sanity. The history of Gall's discoveries proves all this. Well was it that the great master and his immediate fol- lowers could gaze on calmly and forgivingly, repeating that ever memorable saying: u This is truth though at enmity with the philosophy of ages ." Gall, on the 9th of January 1802, was commanded, by the Austrian government, to discontinue his lectures on the functions of the brain ; in consequence of which, he was forced either to cease his labours, or tear himself from friends, home, and a rich and extensive practice. He nobly chose the latter, and on March 6th, 1805, he left Vienna for ever, accompanied by his young associate Dr. Spurzheim. I shall not dwell on the reception of the new doctrines by the Institute of France, and by the scientific men on the continent of Europe ; but shall make a few extracts from British and American works, as demonstrative of the fore- going remarks. u We look on the whole doctrines taught by these two peripatetics, (Gall and Spurzheim) anatomical, physiologi- cal and physiognomical, as a piece of thorough quackery from beginning to end." Edin. Review. No. 49. " They (the doctrines of Gall and Spurzheim,) are a col- lection of mere absurdities, without truth, connexion, or consistency ; an incoherent rhapsody, which nothing could have induced any man to have presented to the public, un- : RECEPTION OF PHRENOLOGY. 59 der a pretence of instructing them, but absolute insanity \ gross ignorance, or the most matchless arrogance ." Ibid. 11 Such is the trash, the despicable trumpery " Ibid. " The writings of Drs. Gall and Spurzheini have not added one fact to the stock of our anatomical knowledge." Ibid. " Madame de Stael is by far too indulgent to such igno- rant and interested quacks as the craniologist Gall." Lon. Quar. Review. "A wild effusion of a bewildered imagination." Dr. Rogct, in the Encyclopedia Britannica. 11 Fool and phrenologist are terms as nearly synomymous as can be found in any language." Blackwood's Mag. " These infernal idiots the phrenologists." Ibid. " The difficulty with phrenology, is the utter absence of any evidence in favour of it." N. Am. Rev. July, 1S33. "Of the principal phrenological writers, including Gall and Spurzheini, and with one exception in favour of Mr. Combe, who appears to us to have allowed his natural acute iiess and professional tendency to hair-splitting to bias his better judgment — we can say with sincerity, that to judge from their works, they are alike deficient in learning and accuracy." Ibid. " The most extravagant departure from all legitimate modes of reasoning, although still under the colour of ana- tomical investigation, is the system of Dr. Gall. It is suf- ficient to say, that without comprehending the grand divis- ions of the nervous system, without a notion of the distinct properties of the individual nerves, or having made any distinction of the columns of the spinal marrow, without even having ascertained the difference of cerebrum and cere- bellwn, Gall proceeded to describe the brain as composed of many particular and independent organs, and to assign to each the residence of some special faculty." Sir Charles Bell, 1836. <: Experience shows that the system of organs proposed 60 HAS PHRENOLOGY TRIUMPHED. by Gall has no foundation" Elements of Physiology, by by J. Midler. 3L I). ; translated with notes by JV. Baly. 31. 1). London, IHlHjy.SaZ. " M. Mtigeiidie is very right, in placing Cranioscopy in the same category, as Astrology and Alchymy." Ibidj). S3S. These quotations from Miiller receive no comment from the translator and annotator, and must be supposed, there- fore, to express his own views. It ivoufd be easy to multiply quotations written in the same general spirit, but these will suffice to show the man- ner in which phrenology was received. For a triumphanS answer to the mendacious assertions that they contain, I refer to the reports which I have the honour to present to the public. But I must here respectfully record my dissent from an opinion recently expressed by the most distinguished of American phrenologists, in a brief publication, with the general views of which I entirely coincide : " 1 have said nothing" says Dr. Caldwell " about the future triumph of phrenology, for one of the best of reasons. Its triumph is past ; and there will be no renewal of the war which it has sustained with such preeminent success." Thoughts on the true connexion between Phrenology and Religion. — Louis- ville, 1839, ]). 19. Again, " Where is the writer of standing, where the periodical of influence and authority, that now contests the truth of these principles ? they do not exist." Ibid p. 22. "What is a triumph 1 Clearly a victory in which the oppo- nent is completely subdued, and the victor's superiority ac- knowledged. Can phrenology yet claim such a triumph I A short time ago the London Quarterly treated it as false, in a review of Combe's outlines. And since that, the same Review has said of the accomplished Chenivix, that though "a man of vigorous talents and very considerable learning, he became a sad dreamer in his latter days, he was a devout disciple of the Phrenological quacks." While I now write* HAS PHRENOLOGY TRIUMPHED 1 G] a number of the Boston Quarterly Review, comes under my notice, in which it is said that the "'ignorance and simplici- ty" betrayed by phrenologists, " can hardly be expected not to excite a smile of pleasantry, or of contempt, in every man of ordinary discernment and information." (April, LS39. p. 229.) But twelve months ago the respected author himself, from whom I have quoted, wrote answers to two opponents, both of whom, are medical professors. Not six months ago, (Nov. 26. 1838, in the Cincinnati Daily News) he challenged three gentlemen, Drs. Mc. Dowell and Harrison, and Professor Mussey, to controversy, on account of their denunciations of phrenology. But last winter, the professor of Physiology in the Medical college of this city spoke of phrenology as a mere chimera. Every where we meet with denouncers and ridiculers of phreno- logy. Every where is the acknowledgment of our belief received with a half-repressed smile. Surely, this cannot be called a triumph. That phrenology will ultimately triumph, I profoundly believe. That it has done so, I am sorry to see stated. For it has a tendency to slacken the energy, and cool the ardour, of young phrenologists, to be told that "the entire day of actual war has gone by ;" and that the presumption is " they are flocking to gather 'the spoils of victory.'" It is true, indeed, that the principles of phrenology are proved, but the proof of right no more constitutes a triumph in science, than in war. It was right that Poland should be free, but Russia triumphed. That " by all who have studied phrenology its doctrines are accredited" may be, and is true, but the question is one of acknowledgment, not of proof, and that examination and conviction are in- separable, was as true before Dr. Caldwell himself accredit- ed phrenology, as it is at this day. When the physiology of the brain, as taught by phrenologists, shall be that taught in all medical institutions ; when the mental philosophy de- veloped by that physiology shall be the mental philosophy 62 NAMES. of the schools and colleges; when the language of that phi- losophy shall be seen in the current literature, and be heard in the senate, from the pulpit and the bar ; then, and not till then, will phrenology have triumphed. And before that auspicious day come, long and arduous must be the struggle. But with pleasure and gratitude do we acknowledge, that that part of the struggle which has passed, has been far more arduous than that which now is, or which is yet to come. That whatever accusation may lie against others, the charge of fair-weather championship can never be brought against the Combes and the Caldwells. Craniology was the name early bestowed on the physi- ology of the brain, but Gall thus objects to it : " They call me Craniologist, and the science which I discovered, Crani- ology ; but, in the first place, all learned words displease me ; next, this is not one applicable to my profession, nor one which really designates it. The object of my research- es is the brain. The cranium is only a faithful cast of the external surface of the brain, and is, consequently, but a minor part of the principal object. This title, therefore, is as inapplicable as would be maker of rhymes, to the poet."* The present name Phrenology, was not first applied by Spurzheim, as Mr. Capen states ;t but by Dr. Forster.f To designate the organs, Gall chose words or phrases ex- pressive of the manifestations which he had observed them to produce, leaving their confirmation or correction to future observers ; following, in this respect, the rule generally adopted by scientific investigators.§ Spurzheim, conform- * Letter to Baron Retzer, Teutchen Merker, 1798. t Biography of Spurzheim, Boston, p. 160. X Sketch of Phrenology, by Dr. Thomas Forster, London, 1816. A Guide to Human and Comparative Phrenology, by Dr. H. W. Dew- hurst, London, 1831, p. 14. Recuil des Ouvrages et de Pensees d'un Physicien, fcc. par Thomas Forster, Francfort sur le Mein, 1836. p. 12. Elliotson's Blumenbach, 1838, p. 690. § See Gall, vol. 4, p. 13. LABOURS OP GALL. (y% ably with enlarged views of function, changed many of il names; in some instances, to others more appropriate or comprehensive. In all his changes, however, he was not so successful. I shall now exhibit a conspectus of the principles estab- lished, and the organs discovered, by the father of phrenolo- gy ; together with his proposed methods of classifying the organs, and of classifying men according to organic de- velopment. Also, a brief account of his anatomical dis- coveries, and of the views he entertained concerning the application of his doctrines. He established, 1. That the mental faculties are innate. 2. That the brain is the organ of mind. 3. That the form and size of the brain are distinguish- able, by the form and size of the head or skull. 4. That the mind possesses distinct faculties, and the brain is composed of distinct organs, and that each mental faculty is manifested through a distinct cerebral organ. 5. That the size of each organ can be estimated during life, and that size, other things being equal, is the measure of power. 6. That each organ, when predominantly active, impress- es the body with certain uniform attitudes and movements, called its natural language. He discovered the following organs : 1. Amativeness. 2. Love of Young. 3. Attachment. 4. Propensity to op- pose, or Combativeness. 5. Propensity to injure, or De- structiveness. 6. Secretiveness. 7. Acquisitiveness. 8. Self-esteem. 9. Love of approbation. 10. Cautiousness. 11. Educability, (afterwards discovered by Spurzheim and the Edinburgh phrenologists to be compound, and to in* elude the organ of Individuality and of Eventuality.) 12. Lo- cality. 13. Form. 14. Language. 15. Colour. 16. Tune. 17. Number. 18. Constructiveness. 19. Comparison. 20. Causality. 21. Wit. 22. Ideality. 23. Benevolence. 64 LABOURS OF GALL. 24. Imitation. 25. Veneration. 26. Firmness. 27. Won- der. [See Gall, vol. 5. p. 211.] Gall considered it probable, that there is an organ for the propensity to take food. Dr. Hoppe, Mr. Crook, Mr. Combe, and others, have established it. He supposed, at one time, that love of life is a distinct function, and thought he had discovered its organ ; but sub- sequently considered himself mistaken. A distinguished editor of Scotland, being in conversation with Mr. Combe, remarked, that his love of life was such, that he would ra- ther suffer " eternal damnation," than be annihilated. Mr. Combe contrasting the vivacity of the feeling in this gentle- man, with its comparative weakness in himself, concluded that the difference probably depended upon the different development of some distinct cerebral organ, and from that time searched for an external sign. Dr. Combe, however, has the merit of making the only valuable observation which I have seen upon this subject. [See Phren. Journal, 1826, p, 467, and the succeeding lectures.] Gall considered it probable that there is an organ of at- tachment for life. [Vol 3, p. 306.] Vimont thinks he has discovered its seat. He gave reasons for believing the sense of order to be a distinct fundamental faculty. [Vol. 4. p. 283.] He thought the sense of time must be a fundamental facul- ty. [Vol. 5. p. 9S.] He discovered the dependence of attachment to place, on cerebral development, but confounded it with Self-esteem to which it lies contiguous. Spurzheim seems to have cor- rected this error, but the functions of the region between Self-esteem and Love of Young are still in dispute. It has been objected to Gall, that his works are a series of disjointed facts. No assertion can be more incorrect. He did not, indeed, reduce his doctrines to a system of ex- act classification, but he pointed out almost all that is valu- able in the classifications now adopted. Gall was not a LAliOURS OF GALL. G5 system maker, according to the usual acceptation of the term. But while he kept assiduously at work, establishing fact after fact, he was keenly scrutinizing the results of his labours tha f he might discover, if possible, the arrangements of nature's self. Well was he rewarded for his philosophic caution. System gradually " rose like an exhalation" from the seeming chaos. It is believed by the faithful followers of Mahomed, that to form the temple of Mecca, a stone came ready hewn from every mountain in the world, exactly fitted to fill the place it now occupies. So with the phre- nological organs. All at first seemed confused and unre- lated ; but gradually they grouped themselves together, each in its proper place, and formed, before the admiring eyes of the great investigator, a system of wondrous har- mony, and of matchless symmetry and beauty. 11 After I had a thousand times considered the arrange- ment of organs," says Gall, "I was struck with the follow- ing great truths : — " 1. The qualities and the faculties, which are common to man and animals, have their seat in the inferior posterior, the posterior inferior, or the anterior inferior parts of the brain. 11 2. The qualities and faculties which man exclusively en- joys, and which form the barrier by which he is separated from the brute, have their seat in those parts which are wanting in animals, and we must consequently seek them in the anterior superior, and the superior anterior parts of the forehead. " 3. The more indispensable the qualities and faculties may be, the more nearly are they placed to the base of the brain, or the median line. " 4. The organs of the fundamental qualities and facul- ties which aid each other, are placed near each other, as the organ of the love of offspring, and that of the instinct of propagation. " 5. The organs of the fundamental analogous qualities 6* 66 LABOURS OF GALL. and faculties are also placed near each other, as those of places, colours, tones and numbers. "Every one must be struck," he continues, "with the profound wisdom which is manifested in the arrangement and successive order of the organs. — We discover there the hand of God, whom we cannot cease to adore with the more astonishment, in proportion as his works are more displayed before our eyes."* Gall arranges heads into three groups: 1. Those of idiots. 2. Those of men whose talents are only moderate, 3. Those of illustrious men, of vast and eminent genius.t He divides men into six classes in respect to internal, moral, and intellectual forces. 1. Those in whom the faculties proper to man are com- pletely developed, while the animal faculties are feebly de- veloped. 2. Those in whom the animal faculties are greatly de- veloped and the higher faculties but feebly. 3. Those in whom both the higher and lower faculties are considerably developed. 4. Those in whom one, or a few of the faculties are de- veloped to an extraordinary degree, while the others are at or below mediocrity. 5. Those in whom some, or one, of the organs are veiy little developed, while the others are more favourably de- veloped, and active. 6. Those in whom the organs common to animals and those proper to man, are equally moderate in their devel- opmentf These he elucidates in a brief but masterly manner. The organs of the inferior anterior, and superior anterior portions of the brain he divides into five regions.§ * Gall, toI. iii. p. 130. t Gall, rol. i. p. 179. t Gall, vol. i. p. 251. § Gall, vol. iv. p. 232. LABOURS OF BALL. 67 The faculties may, he states, be differently classified ac- cording to the view we wish to take of them. 1. Into sentiments, propensities, talents, ancf intellectual faculties. 2. Into faculties common to man and brutes, and facul- ties proper to man. 3. Into fundamental faculties and their attributes.* This last is the arrangement which he prefers and adopts. Gall in 1805, demonstrated the brain to Reil, who ac- knowledged " that he had found more in Gall's dissections of the brain, than he thought any man could have discover, ed in his whole life.t " Having completed my studies in 1804," says Dr. Spurzheim, " I became associated with Dr. Gall, and devoted myself entirely to anatomical in- quiries. At this period, Dr. Gall, in the anatomy, spoke of the decussation of the pyramidal bodies, of their passage through the pons varolii, of eleven layers of longitudinal and transverse fibres in the pons, of the continuation of the optic nerve to the anterior pair of the quadrigeminal bodies, of the exterior bundles, of the crura of the brain diverging beneath the optic nerves, in the direction which Vieussens, Monro, Vicq d' Azyr, and Reil had followed, the first by means of scraping, the others, by cutting the substance of the brain. Dr. Gall showed further the continuation of the anterior commissure across the striated bodies ; he also spoke of the unfolding of the brain that happens in hydro- cephalus."! From numerous passages in the works of Gall, we learn that he clearly perceived and pointed out the vast importance and comprehensiveness of his doctrines. He did this as early as 1798, in his admirable letter to Baron Retzer, pub- lished in the Teutchen Merker. Again, in 1802, in that noble document, his petition and remonstrance to the em- •GaD, vol. vi. p. 270. t Gall, vol. vi. p. 303. J Spurz. Anat. of the Brain, Boston, 1836, p. 16. 68 COMPARATIVE MERITS OF GALL AND SPURZHEIM. peror of Austria. And in the opening of the sixth volume of his smaller work he remarks : " I have always had a con- sciousness of the dignity of my researches, and of the ex- tended influence which my doctrines will hereafter exercise on all the branches of human knowledge ; and for this rea-: son I am indifferent what may be said, either for or against my works." And, immediately afterwards, as if a vision of futurity had just burst upon his sight, he exclaims i Ci What advances in comparative anatomy, physiology, and comparative pathology of the nervous system ! What fruit- ful sources of undeniable principles for philosophical stu- dies, for the art of selecting, deducing the good from the dispositions of individuals, for directing the education of the young ! What precious materials for a criminal legis- lation, founded upon a complete knowledge of the motives of human actions ! How different will history appear to him who knows how to appreciate it, according to the domi- nant propensities and faculties of those personages, who have been its great actors."* * Gall ; vol. 6, p. 2. It is said by Capen, that, in Paris, Dr. Gall reali- zed a handsome fortune. [Biography of Spurzheim, p. 37.] Dr. Elliot- son, on the contrary, whose means of obtaining correct information seem to have been ample, says, that M Till Gall established himself in Paris, and rose into a very fine practice, (he was physician to many ambassa- dors,) he kept himself very poor from spending upon his phrenological pursuits, all he gained, after absolutely necessary expenses. And although he lived then in the most private manner, with the comforts indeed of a handsome lodging, a carriage, and a garden with a small house in the suburbs, he had saved so little, that had his illness been protracted, his friends, in a few months, must have supported him." [Phys. 5th ed. p. 404.] Gall, in his petition and remonstrance to the emperor ofAustria [1802] says, " 3. To this perilous injury to my reputation, involving the loss of all the advantages arising from the hard earned confidence of the public, must be added a consequence deeply affecting my interest. My collection of plaster casts, — of the skulls of men and animals, and of the brains of men and animals in wax, has cost me about seven thousand gulden; and I have already made very expensive preparations, exceeding in amount fifteen thousand gulden, for a splendid work on the functions COMPARATIVE MERITS OF CALL AND SPURZHEIM. 69 I have stated thus at length our amount of indebtedness to Gall, as the groundwork of the opinion which I now ex- press, with respect, but with the profound conviction of its truth, that from by far the greater part of British and Ameri- can phrenologists, Gall has never received justice. This is not wonderful, indeed, for his works were expensive, and, until recently, entirely in a foreign language. Besides, Spurzheim, and not Gall, introduced phrenology into Britain, and taught it in the United States. His manners were winning, his mind of a high order, and calculated to leave an impression of intellectual and moral greatness. And among those who received the doctrines which he taught, Reverence bowed to him, and Benevolence warmed . towards him, and Friendship clung to him, and Conscien- § tiousness yearned to discharge, as far as possible, that debt of j obligation to which the inestimable truths of which he was the \. minister, had subjected it, and it was seemingly forgotten o :hat he was not the master. Gall and Spurzheim were used is synonymes, and the latter more often and with more i jraise than the former. Hence, it appears to me, are we to '" iccount for the frequent occurrence of the phrase "founders f phrenology" applied to Gall and Spurzheim, (though ; Spurzheim had no more to do with founding phrenology a- han the writer of this sentence ;) and for such opinions :li is the following : - f "Dr. Spurzheim found by observation, that in an individ- \ ml who manifests great self-esteem, a certain part of the rjj! >rain is fully developed : and likewise, that the individual i tarries his head high, and reclining backwards."* II The mind of Dr. Spurzheim, in our opinion, seems to 2) mve been cast in a still more metaphysical mould than that Dr. Gall, who, though he has shown very uncommon .•', >t the brain, which has been universally demanded of me: this property . vill be rendered useless, by destroying my reputation." [See Combe's . ranslation of Gall and others, on the cerebellum, fyc. London, 1838, p. 334.] * Combe's answer to Roget. 70 COMPARATIVE MERITS OP GALL AND SPURZHEIM. acuteness in his abstract inquiries upon mind, has yet left some points so feeble as to endanger the whole system"* " Spurzheim, the anatomist, who, by dissecting the brain, first displayed to the eye its fibrous and ganglionary struct- ure, and demonstrated the direction and connection of its filaments;" — "the philosopher, who, by the greatness of his own mind, raised craniology and physiognomy to the ethical science, phrenology."t "Gall and his no less illustrious associate.":}: " From the moment Spurzheim became the associate of Gall, the anatomy of the brain assumed a new character."§ " What a debt of gratitude do we owe to Gall." — u But a still deeper debt do we owe to Spurzheim, whose sagacity, amidst a labyrinth of apparent absurdity, found a clew to guide him to the shrine of Reason — whose resistless under- standing, penetrated the chaos of deformities, exaggerations and abuses, and saw, beneath the crude and shapeless mass, the true design of Omniscient Benevolence."|| " That Spurzheim was superior to Gall as an anatomist, we believe, all admit."fl " Time will prove that the foundation of the science of phrenology was laid by Gall : but, that without the aid of Spurzheim, the superstructure had not been reared"** I might greatly increase the number of such quotations, but these will suffice. Time, the great vindicator, who ever restores to the wronged one the riven spoils, will decide strangely indeed, if he decides as Dr. Stedman indicates : " Without the aid of Spurzheim, the superstructure had never been reared "! Before Spurzheim's engagement, as Gall's assistant, the father of phrenology had thrown down * Chenivix's art. in For. Qua. Rev. t Annals of Phren. Boston, 1835. p. 72. ; Translator's preface to Gall's works. § Memoir of Spurzheim, by Dr. Carmichael, p. 4. || Ibid p. 95. IF Memoir of Spurzheim, by Nahum Capen, p. 164. ** Dr. Stedman's preface to Spurzheim's anatomy of the brain. Boston, 1835. COMPARATIVE MBEITfl OF BAIiL AM) sri R/IIEIM. 71 the accumulated superstructures of ages, had cleared away the rubbish, hail laid the foundation of the new temple broad and deep, and had reared by far the greater part of its massive walls and its everlasting towers. The faithful student of Dr. Gall's works cannot, 1 think, read some of these quotations without a feeling of regret, that Dr. Spur- zheinvs eulogists should have thus attempted to raise their friend at Dr. Gall's expense. A just appreciation of his talents did not require it ; for we need not admire Spur* zheim the less, because we admire Gall the more. Let me here then recapitulate the following undeniable facts : Dr. Gall demonstrated the unsatisfactory nature of all existing explanations of mental phenomena, and of the functions of the brain, and the true method of investi- gating such phenomena, and such functions. He alone es- tablished all the great fundamental principles of phrenology. He discovered three-fourths of all the organs yet known. He discovered and developed the natural language of the or- gans. He pointed out, in a general way, the applications of phrenology to insanity, education and jurisprudence. He indicated the mode in which men, and the organs might be classified, and in which investigations should be continued. Finally, he discovered the great leading facts concerning cerebral structure; in developing which, those who followed him had merely to pursue the same course. In view of these things how can it be pretended that to Spurzheim is due equal, if not superior merit? The ques- tion is not whether Spurzheim had superior mental capaci- ty, though the magnificent cerebral development of Gall must decide that question in the negative, but whether Spurzheim achieved more than Gall. And when so ex- pressed, the answer must rise up in the mind of every man, with a feeling of surprise that the question should ever have been conceived. But I must go one step farther, and with reverence, with a deep feeling of responsibility, but desiring in all things, 72 spurzheim's depreciation op gall. and above all things to be true to my own convictions, must say, that I do not consider Dr. Spurzheim as entirely blame- less. In his works we find none of that beautiful display of gratitude towards his master, which we so often meet with in the works of Mr. Combe and others towards him- self, but on the contrary, a tendency to depreciate. It had been asserted that Gall pretended to have discovered an organ of murder. Now Gall never pretended to any such discovery. What he did discover, and what he stated himself to have discovered, was a propensity to kill for food. Yet Dr* Spurzheim countenanced and repeated the accusation. Gall was accused of maintaining that there was an organ of theft ; now, he never maintained that theft was any thing else than the abuse of acquisitiveness. Yet Spurzheim countenanced and repeated the accusation. Again, Dr» Gall gives seven tests of a fundamental faculty* which Spurzheim imitates,t and then, without accrediting Gall, adds, that Gall did not determine any of the organs in con- formity with such tests. But once more, Spurzheim says, " His (Dr. Gall's) talent , and the sphere of its operations had their limits, and since our separation in 1813, Dr. Gall has neither made a new discovery, nor a step towards its im- provement.":}: This, is at least, an inconsiderate statement, for in 1813, Gall was fifty-eight years of age, two years older than was Dr. Spurzheim at the time of his death ; he had been engaged from his youth in intense cerebral action ; his powers had begun to decay ; he had almost fulfilled his destiny ; nothing remained for him to do, but that he should complete the presentation of his labours in due form to the world. Truly did he himself remark, " The foundation of this useful doctrine is established, and it should be as firm as the facts, the materials of which it is constructed. But I am far from believing, that the edifice is finished ! Neither * Gall. vol. iii. p. 134, and vol v. p. 250. t Spurz.vol. i. p. 132. t Spurzheim's Notes to Chenivix, note 3. p. 99. spurzheim's merits. 73 t!ie life nor the fortune of one man, can be sufficient for this vast project."* I think it cannot be shown in the annals of the human race, that any man ever laboured more assiduously, or more successfully, than did Dr. Gall, or that any man ever presented to his race so rich a boon , and is it becoming, to damn him with faint praise, because he did not labour still more assiduously and successfully, and present a still richer boon 1 Because he did not show in the decline of life,the vigour of undecaying manhood 1 True it is that Gall's talent, and the sphere of its opera- tions had their limits ; he was finite ; but that limit was as wide as man's ever was. He was one of those few immor- tals who for ever tower in awful majesty above the waters of oblivion, marking the grand eras of human history, far better than years, or Olympiads. But though I cannot for a moment consider Spurzheim as having equal merit with Gall, yet to him also we do owe much. He stood by phrenology firmly, and battled for it manfully, when the most fiercely assaulted; he for a long course of years devoted to its investigation and promulgation, talents and energies of a high order. He corrected some er- rors into which Gall had fallen, and made many observations tending to strengthen and confirm his discoveries. He, him- self, made other discoveries, both in the anatomy, and physiology of the brain. He discovered the organ of Con- scientiousness, that of Hope, of Size, of Weight, of Or- der, and of Time, and proved the organ of Educability to be compound. He was the first to apply, in detail, the doctrines of phrenology to the treatment of the in- sane, and the direction of education ; which he did in an admirable manner. For these things his memory will ever be held sacred ; and because of them, he was, on the death of Gall in 1828, deservedly acknowledged by uni- versal consent, as the head of the new philosophy. But 1 Gall, vol. vi. p. 3. rr 74 combe's merits. not long did he survive his great master. In 1832, just as America had commenced to be blessed with the outpourings of his vast knowledge and experience, his light was extin- guished. But Mr. Combe, who had long been second only to Spurz- heim, survived. He had advocated phrenology with singular success, and repelled its assailants with manly vigour, so tempered with knightly courtesy, that, while they reeled from the conflict, they could hardly withhold respect and praise from the victor. Perhaps no man has a greater power than he, of reducing an argument into its elements* and of separating whatever is sound, from whatever is fal- lacious. His fine analytical talent acts with the readiness and certainty almost, of a chymical test. The crowning merit of Mr. Combe, however, consists in his complete knowledge of the principles, details, and evidences of phre- nology ; his zealous and masterly application of them to the advancement of human civilization; and in the clear- ness, force and beauty, of his writings, which, while they satisfy the most profound judgment, and gratify the most refined taste, are readily comprehended by the popular mind. His works, therefore, are more extensively read than those of any other phrenologist. One of them, The Constitution of Man, has, I believe, a circulation un- paralleled in the history of philosophical works. In it he has well nigh solved the problem of human happiness and human destiny. In reading it the pulse of the philanthro- pist beats high with excitement, his muscles stiffen with energy, his countenance beams with anticipation, and his eye brightens with hope, as he looks through its pages at the panorama of coming events, and sees Justice and Benev- olence, surely though slowly, subjecting all things to them- selves ; as he sees that the golden age, which poets feigned to be past has yet to come ; that the course of society is not as from noon to night, but as from dawn to meridian day.* *I have before me, "An exposure &c», of Combe's Constitution of VIMONT, UCCELLI, ETC. 75 On Combe then did the mantle descend at Spurzheim's death. Nobly and gracefully has he worn it, and long may the time be, before this third prophet is summoned from his sphere of usefulness ! It would be a pleasing employment to do justice to all who have been engaged in the promotion of phrenology, but my limits would not permit, even if I had ample know- ledge for the task. I can therefore merely say, in brief, that to Dr. Vimont, as before observed, are we indebted for the best work on comparative phrenology ; he thinks too, that he has discovered two organs which have not been before alluded to : namely, a geometrical sense, and a sen- timent of the beautiful in arts. Let not the lamented Uc- celli of Florence be forgotten ; who, for expressing his be- lief in phrenology, lost his chair in the University of that city, was persecuted with blind malignity ; to whose re- mains were denied the honours which his students wished to pay, and of whom all biographical accounts were pro- hibited. To Sir George Mc. Kenzie, Mr. Cox, Mr. Simp- son, Mr. Watson, Mr. Scott and other collaborators of Mr. Combe, much credit is due, and also to Dr. Hoppe of Co- Man; being an antidote to the poison of that publication, by Wm. Gil- lispie. Edinburgh, 1837." I advise those who can borrow this work, to do so, and read what has been called "an efficient antidote" (see Methodist Magazine,) to Mr. Combe's work, by a gentleman "more than a match for Mr. Combe," (see Christian Advocate,) by an antag- onist, in short, "whom it will be difficult if not impossible to vanquish." (See Edinburgh Evening Post.) The chief argument of Mr. Gillispie, may be thus stated: "If Mr. Combe be right, then somebody else is wrong; therefore, Mr. Combe is wrong." I leave the author to throw it into the syllogistic form. But I must really give him credit for the intimate acquaintance he manifests with Hudibras and Don Quixolte, the Dictionary of Quotations, and the flowers of twaddle and vitupera- tion. He also defends the Devil with much zeal, but for what reason I am at a loss to determine, seeing that Mr. Combe no where attempts to depreciate the merits, or interfere with the prescriptive rights of that powerful potentate. 76 DR. ELLIOTSON. penhagen, an able and indefatigable advocate of the phre- nological doctrines. To Dr. Elliotson are we indebted for his early, zealous, and unremitting advocacy of phrenology in England. He has the merit, too, I believe of being the first writer in the English language who has attempted to do full justice to the comparative merits of Gall. Whilst preparing the mat- ter which constitutes this sketch, I received from a friend the doctor's notes to the fifth edition of Blumenbach, which have enabled me to make my own more complete. It was pleasing to find the claims of Gall so ably maintained, but painful to witness the doctor, in the ardour of his zeal for Gall's fame, seem anxious to destroy that of Spurzheim, by presenting all that he thought exceptionable in his works and character, and by keeping out of view nearly all that was good and great. Dr. Elliotson, has, however, been assailed for stating what is indubitably true, regarding Spurzheim's altering the situation of organs on the bust. The alterations which he mentions, and some others, I pointed out three years a^o to the New York Phrenological Society, and to my friends many times since. And also, in November last, to a distinguished phrenologist, who wrote to Mr. Capen, the biographer of Spurzheim, to ascertain whether the chart published in the last edition of Spurzheim's Phrenology, and the bust purporting to be his, and sold by Marsh, Capen & Lyon, were authorized by Spurzheim. The answer was that they were made " according to his directions before his sickness." Believing that the cause of truth cannot be injured by rectifying error, any more than that metal can be depreciated by refining away its dross, in December I ex- posed these discrepancies, in print, and showed that Spur- zheim was at striking and irreconcilable variance, not only with other phrenologists, but with his former self, and with nature. The London Phrenological Journal notices the article, and approves of the conclusions drawn from its DR. ELLIOTSON. 77 facts and statements ; namely, that Dr. Spurzheim's latest bust was probably marked according to some fancied pro- priety, and that the Edinburgh bust should be used in pre- ference. * Again, Dr. Elliotson says, " To prove Dr. Spurzheim's speculative spirit, I may mention, that, instead of giving the origin of any of his asserted discoveries, as Gall did, and adding a host of examples, he tells us, in regard to the organ of inhabitiveness only, that a gentleman much at- tached to his house, had a particular spot of his head much hotter than any other ; and, in regard to the organs of hope, «fec, he neither tells us how he discovered them, nor adduces a single proof." On this, Mr. H. Haley Holm, in the London Medical Gazette, thus remarks, " Does Dr. Elliotson mean to insinuate that Spurzheim was not justi- fied in modifying his opinions, as experience gave him fur- ther opportunities of perfecting them 1" I confess that I cannot perceive the appositeness of this question. Dr. Elliotson has been insinuating no such absurdity. What he complains of, and justly, may be best seen after quoting another and succeeding passage from Mr. Holm : " I will direct immediate attention to the following quotation from it, (Spurzheim's Phrenology,) in order to show Spurz- heim's philosophical turn of mind, as well as his candour : 1 In examining the fundamental powers of the mind and their organs,' says he, ' I shall always follow the same pro- cedure. I shall first consider the individual actions, then give the history of the discovery of the organ,' &c." Now it is obvious that Dr. Spurzheim has not fulfilled his own conditions, with respect to the organs mentioned by Elliot- son ; he has not given " the history of the discovery of the organs." And I agree with Dr. Elliotson that this is an important omission. To show the necessity and value of such details, it may be mentioned that the growth of the brain in adult age, in particular directions, from special excitement, is justly considered as a most interesting ques- 7* 78 PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETIES AND JOURNALS. tion. We want facts on this subject, well authenticated facts. Now Spurzheim says, " It is a remarkable fact, that the forehead increases very early, and continues, when ex- ercised, to grow very late in life. I had positive observations that, after the age of thirty-six and forty years, the fore- head has increased an inch in size."* Had he shown how, and when, and on whom, his observations had been made — had he, especially,produced the casts and measurements of the heads to which he refers, before and after such remark- able increase in size, he would have done muoh towards settling this question. As it is, however, he leaves the mat- ter just where he found it ; for, with all respect for the opinions of others, I must be allowed to express my own, that the bare assertion of any man is not the sort of evi- dence, from which to draw a philosophical conclusion. " To the everlasting honour of Edinburgh,'* to use Dr. Elliotson's words, " not only was the first Phrenologi- cal Society established there, but the first Phrenological Journal." There is also a journal published at Paris, and another at Copenhagen. The present Phrenological So- ciety of London was established, I believe, in 1824, under the auspices of Dr. Elliotson. That of Paris, which num- bers among its members some of the most celebrated medical men of France, was established in 1831, and holds its an- nual meetings on the22d of August, the death-day of Gall. In 1836 the number of phrenological societies in Great Britain alone, was twenty -nine. The History of Phrenology in the United States is readily told. In 1822, Dr. John Bell republished at Phila- delphia, with a short preliminary discourse, Mr. Combe's Essays on Phrenology. This appears to have been the first publication in favour of the science, issued in the United States. A few years afterwards, Dr. B. R. Coates of Phil- adelphia, published a strong article in reply to Professor * Spurzheira's Phrenology, vol. i. 307. PintENOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES. 79 Warren, of Boston, who had attacked phrenology. In 18*23, Professor Dr. John D. Wells, of Bowdoin College, Brunswick, state of Maine, on his return from Europe, where he had heard phrenology taught, by Gall himself, commenced an annual exposition and recommendation of its doctrines, to his class, which he continued, 1 believe, as long as he remained in the college. The lamented Godman was an advocate of phrenology. In 1S29 he spoke of" the renowned, the indefatigable, the undefeated Gall."* And, in his edition of Bell's Anatomy, he contraverts Bell's dicta against the science, and remarks, " This is the foundation upon which the doctrines of Gall and Spurzheim rest, — purely upon observation, — and this is the reason why these doctrines have so triumphantly out- lived all the misrepresentation and violence of opposition. "f On the 4th of August, 1832, Dr. Spurzheim landed in the United States; and commenced lecturing at Boston, on the 17th of September, but was interred, alas! just two months afterwards. On the 31st of December, 1832, the birthday of Spurzheim, the Boston Phrenological Society was established, and in three months numbered ninety mem- bers. Several similar societies are now organized in other cities of the United States. In October, 1833, a quarterly journal, The Annals of Phrenology, was commenced in Boston, and continued two years. In October, 1838, a monthly periodical, The American Phrenological Journal and Miscellany, was commenced at Philadelphia. But the American,who, above all others, has distinguish- ed himself by his zeal and labours in favour of phrenology, is Dr. Charles Caldwell. On his return from Europe, where he had heard Dr. Gall, he prepared, and in 1821 — 2 delivered a brief course of lectures on the science, to his class in the medical department of Transylvania College. This was the first course ever delivered in the United States. * Godman's Addresses. Philadelphia, p. 101. t Bell's Anatomy New York, 1827, vol. i. p. 165. 80 DR. CALDWELL. The Doctor has repeated it to his successive classes, in that college, and the college of Louisville, every winter since that time. In the spring of 1822, he delivered a popular course to the citizens of Lexington. In 1823, he lectured at Louisville. In 1824, at Nashville. In 1825, at Balti- more and at Washington, which led to the formation of a phrenological society at each of those places. In 1826, he lectured again at Washington. In 1828, at Boston. In 1835, again at Nashville. In 1836, at Natchez. In 1837, at Philadelphia; and in 1838, at New-York. The phrenological publications of Professor Caldwell are very numerous. He published* in 1824, by invitation of his class, a summary of his course of lectures previously delivered to them. In 1826, in the Edinburgh Phrenolo- gical Journal, two papers on the Phrenology of the North American Indians. In IS29, a paper entitled, New Views of Penitentiary Discipline and Moral Reform. [See Ed. Phren. Jour.] In 1831, An Essay on Temperaments. In 1832, An Essay on Mental Derangement. [See Transyl- vania Medical Journal.] And another entitled, Thoughts on True Epicurism. [See New England Magazine.] And an address on Intemperance, in which he gave the phren- ology of that vice. In 1833, three essays : 1. On Moral Medicine. 2. On the true mode of improving the condi- tion of Man. 3. On the Study of the Greek and Latin Languages. In 1834, An Essay on Physical Education, and two articles, entitled, Phrenology Yindicated ; one pub- lished in the Boston Annals, and the other in the New Eng- land Magazine. In 1835, in the Boston Annals, a reply to Lord Brougham's attack. At Nashville, an Address on the Spirit of Improvement ; and at Lexington, another on the Phrenology of Gambling. In 1838, a small volume, en- titled, Phrenology Vindicated and Antiphrenology Unmask- ed. In 1839, a Letter to the Editor of the American Phrenological Journal. It is especially worthy of remem- brance, that but few of the foregoing publications were PRESENT CONDITION OF PHRENOLOGY. 81 printed for sale, the greater part were gratuitously distribu- ted, principally throughout the Valley of the Mississippi. Thus numerous, important, and unremitting have been the labours of Charles Caldwell, a name which must ever ociated with the introduction of Phrenology into the New World. My intention was to treat somewhat at large on the pres- ent condition of Phrenology, but I have already passed the limits, and must hasten on, contenting myself with express- ing the following view ; namely, that a vague general im- pression exists that there may be something in phrenology after all. And among a great number a belief that there really is something in it. That a much smaller number, but still a formidable phalanx, believe in it, and advocate its doctrines. And a number comparatively small, study it with assiduity, as the science of their affections, and have a deep and abiding conviction of its vast importance. But in the Universities, Colleges, and Seminaries of learn- ing, it has hardly been able to set its foot. And by the generality of professors, ministers, scientific and religious writers, it is proscribed and denounced, or at best treated with distrust and lukewarmness. Among the signs of the times however, I would mention one especially indicative of the gradual advancement of phrenology in popular estimation. The periodical press wields great power, for good, or for evil. Pity, that it is not always employed in the cause of truth and virtue ! There are noble exceptions, indeed, but it is undeniable that many editors forget the dignity and responsibility of their office, pander to vile tastes, and succumb to paltry and bigoted prejudices. Their duty it is to enlighten public opinion, but instead, they watch it with eagle eyes, to note its indi- cations of change, that by quickly following they may seem to lead. With this class of editors, phrenology was con- sidered for years as a capital joke, the very name seemed a fountain of gibes and jeers. Their phrenology, however, 82 PRESENT CONDITION OF PHRENOLOGY. was not ours, but a windmill hero of their own ; a thing of shreds and patches, of mere bones and bumps ; a conglome- ration of deformities, incongruities and puerilities, which they could set up, and hurl down, at pleasure, for the edi- fication and amusement of their wondering readers. These editors, in general, have now ceased such Don Quixotisms, and betaken themselves to other amusement. Nay, many of them begin to touch their hats to the real presence, and acknowledge that there was a little mistake in the matter, or they would not, upon their honour they wotrkfc not, have misrepresented so comely and respectable a personage. This is cheering; not because of any intrinsic value which their opinions possess, for the observations they make ge- nerally betray their ignorance of the subject, but because such opinions are significant of a favourable state of the popular mind. They are to public feeling, what the ba- rometer is to the atmosphere, they show the amount of pressure from without. To consider the authority of a mere mathematician on the Malthusian doctrines, or that of a mere anatomist on the immortality of man, as decisive of the truth or falsehood of those questions, would be absurd enough. But the testi- monials of men of reputed accuracy of observation and soundness of judgment, in favour of doctrines the evidences of which they state themselves carefully to have examined, and, especially, when their decision subjects them to oppro- brium, ought to have weight enough to secure for such doc- trines, a respectful and patient investigation. To furnish such testimonials in great numbers, would be incompatible with my plan and limits ; yet, I here present a few, in answer to the name-worshippers who are continually asking, with a contemptuous tone, Who believes in phrenology ? These I shall extract from a volume of " Testimonials in behalf of George Combe, as a candidate for the chair of Logic in the University of Edinburgh." In doing which, I shall omit all that relates to Mr. Combe himself. TESTIMONIALS. 83 The following testimonials, among others, certify, that Phrenology, viewed as the abstract science of mind, is su- perior to any sy stein of Mental Philosophy which has pre- ceded it: — From Richard Whatdy, D. D. Lord ArcMishop of Dublin. " I am convinced, that even if all connection of the brain with the mind were regarded not merely as doubtful, but as a perfect chimera, still the treatises of many phrenological writers would be of great value, from their employing a metaphysical nomenclature, far more logical, ac- curate, and convenient, than Locke, Stewart, and other writers of their school. " That the religious and moral objections against the phrenological theory are utterly futile, I have from the first been fully convinced." p. 5. From Sir G. S. Mackenzie, Bart. F. R. S. L., fyc. " During the last twenty years, I have lent my humble aid in resisting a torrent of ridicule and abuse, and have lived to see the true philoso- phy of man (phrenology) establishing itself wherever talent is found capable of estimating its immense value." — p. 8. From Dr. Robert Macnish, author of "The Philosophy of Sleep "$$c. " The old system of metaphysics explained nothing satisfactorily ; and like all persons who attempted to arrive at definite results by its assist- ance, since commencing the study of phrenology, a new light has dawn- ed upon me, and various phenomena which were before perfectly inex- plicable upon any known theory, are now of easy solution." — p. 15. From Dr. Wm. Gregory, F. R. S. E., formerly President of the Royal Medical Society. u I am firmly convinced of the truth of phrenology, and of its vast importance, as constituting the only satisfactory and consistent system of mental philosophy which the world has yet seen." — p. 22. From the Honourable D. G. Hallyburton, M. P. " Those who have dispassionately investigated the subject agree ai- 84 TESTIMONIALS. 3 most to a man, in maintaining, that phrenology rests upon evidence that is irrefragable ; and that the time is not far off, when all philosophy of mind, which shall not rest upon it as a basis, will be put aside as very incomplete." — p. 50. From Charles Maclaren, Esq., Editor of that distinguished newspaper, The Scotsman. " Even though I had no faith in organology, I should still hold that phrenology possesses the following advantages : 1st. That it ex- hibits a more scientific and consistent classification of the human facul- ties than any other system of philosophy. 2d. That is gives a more lucid and satisfactory explanation of those varieties of national and in* dividual character which we find in the world. 3d. That it has a more immediate and practical bearing on human conduct and the business of life, on morals, education, and legislation." — p. 57. From Robert Chambers, Esq,, one of the conductors of Chambers' Edin- burgh Journal " I consider the scheme of mind, which results from phrenology, as not only superior to any hitherto laid before the world, but the only rea- sonably complete account of human nature which we possess, and the only one which can serve as a basis for any system of instructions. "-p. 55. From the Honourable Judge Crampton. " I am persuaded that phrenology is amongst the most important of the acquisitions made to the stock of modern knowledge, and that upon it must be based every sound system of mental philosophy." The following testimonials certify that phrenology contains a true exposition of the physiology of the brain. From Dr. Wm. Weir, Lecturer on the practice of medicine, and one of the Editors of the Glasgow Medical Journal. "Being myself convinced, after many years study of the subject, and numerous observations, that phrenology is the true philosophy of mind, I have taught it, in my lectures delivered to medical students, as the cor rect physiology of the brain. And I consider it impossible to give a TESTIMONIALS. 85 proper view of the physiology of the brain, on any other but phrenolo- gical principles." — p. 37. From Dr. John Mackintosh, Lecturer on the Principles of Pathology, and Practice of Physic. 11 The more closely I study nature, in health and disease, the more firm are my convictions of the soundness of phrenological doctrines." From Dr. James Johnson, Physician-extraordinary to the King, Editor of the Medico- Chirurgical Review, 8fc. 8?c. u I have long been convinced that the science of mind can only be understood and taught, properly, by those who have deeply studied the structure and functions of its material instrument, the brain. I am con- vinced, that in this world, mind can be manifested only through the medium of matter." — " Without subscribing to all the details of phren- ology, I believe its fundamental principles to be based on truth." The following testimonials certify to the utility of applying phrenology in discriminating the varieties of insanity. From Sir W. C. Ellis, M. D. Physician to the Lunatic Asylum of the county of Middlesex. "I candidly own, that until I became acquainted with phrenology, I had no solid basis, upon which I could ground any treatment, for the cure of the disease of insanity, which had long had a peculiar claim upon my attention." From Dr. James Scott, LI. B. Surgeon and Medical Superintendent of the Royal Naval Lunatic Asylum. " As I have been for nearly ten years the medical attendant of the Lunatic Asylum in this great Hospital, my opportunities, at least, of observing, have been great indeed; and a daily intercourse with the unfortunate individuals entrusted to my care and management, has firmly, because experimentally, convinced me that mental disorder, and moral delinquency, can be rationally combated only bv the application of phrenology." 8 86 TESTIMONIALS, The following testimonials prove the bearing of phrenology on the classification and treatment of criminals. In April 1836, Mr. Combe visited Glasgow jail, and examined phren- ologically some of the criminals. G. Salmond, Esq., Procurator-fiscal of Lanarkshire, drew up an account of the striking accuracy of Mr. Combe's diagnosis, which is certified to, by W. Moir, Esq., Sheriff- substitute of Lanarkshire, and Mr. D. M' Coll, Governor of Glasgow jail. Mr. Salmond remarks, in conclusion: — " The accuracy of your conclusions has deeply impressed me with the benefit which would accrue to society from the application of such investigations towards the better classification of criminals before and after trial, to the selection and treatment of convicts, and even to the more certain identification of such criminals as might effect their escape from justice or confinement." From Dr. E. Otto, Professor of Materia Medica and Forensic Medicine in the University of Copenhagen, Editor of the Danish Journal, *' Bi~ bliothikfor Lieper," fyc. 8?c. " 1 consider it quite possible to distinguish men of strong animal pro- pensities, who, when left uncontrolled by authority, or when excited by intoxication, would be dangerous to society, from men of mild dispo- sitions, by examining their heads during life. I have practically applied this method of distinguishing the natural dispositions of men, and found it uniformly successful." The following testimonials apply to the utility of phren- ology in its application to the purposes of education : From Alexander J. D. Dorsey, Esq., Master of the English department in the High School of Glasgow. " It is my decided opinion, that he who teaches and trains upon phrenological principles, will experience a constantly increasing attach- ment to his profession, will invariably secure the affectionate esteem of his pupils, and will, as a necessary consequence, succeed in giving them a thorough education, moral, intellectual and physical. I write this Hot in a theorising spirit, but from several years' extensive experience. "In History, the use of phrenology is truly valuable. In fact, till I BTIMONIALS. ^7 knew something of this beautiful system of mental philosophy, I n taught history properly, or, I may add, any thing else." — p. 35 From Jl'. Hunter, Esq., A. N., late Professor of Logic, Sfc, in the Ander- sonian University, Glasgow. " I am conviuced that phrenology is the true science of the mind. Every other system is defective in enumerating, classifying, and tracing the relations of the faculties. " I consider this science indispensably necessary in teaching any branch of education properly. And it is signally effective in exciting and directing the faculties of the mind without having recourse to cor- poral punishment, or even a peevish or resentful expression." — p. 51. From some of the most distinguished of the Parisian physicians, including Broussais, Fassati, Bouillaud, Sanson, Cloquet, Vimont, and Voissin. u Phrenology being in their opinion the most certain and complete science of the faculties of man, they consider that a good system of Logic cannot be more firmly based than upon the profound study of that science." Use of Phrenology to Artists. From George Rennie, Esq., Sculptor. i( As an artist, I have at all times found phrenology advantageous in the practice of my art, and that expression in almost every case coin- cided exactly with what was indicated by the cerebral development." If some one, who has been accustomed to scoff at phren- ology, should have accompanied me hitherto, I would res- pectfully, but candidly, say to him, at parting: Ifphreno- be true, then, by continuing to oppose it, you will merely injure and dishonour yourself. You may laugh, but laughter is not wit ; you may scoff, but scoffing is not argu- ment ; you may shut your eyes, but it will not, therefore, be dark ; you may raise clouds of dust, but you will merely obstruct your own vision, not extinguish the radiance of truth. Be candid and generous therefore, and till you have 88 CONCLUSION. examined the subject in an adequate manner, acknowledge, that on what you have not properly investigated, you have no right to decide. With the phrenologist, I would part in congratulation for what has been achieved, and in bright anticipations of future advancement. Not that very rapid progress need be hoped for. The students of the old philosophy, cannot be expected, in any great numbers, to abandon their painfully acquired notions, and go again to school. The aged are I naturally conservative, and cling to old opinions and insti- tutions, with amiable tenacity. Truth, however, is a reve- lation from the divinity of Nature, and never returns void of effect. But the truths of phrenology have to work their way through such mountainous obstacles; they have so many erroneous things to rectify, and so many alloyed things to purify, that the expectation of rapid advancement would indicate an imperfect knowledge of the true nature of our science. I close this sketch, by putting on record my entire con- viction, that when phrenology shall be generally accredited, it will be considered as the most interesting and surprising event in the history of human civilization, that the truth of its fundamental facts, should have been so long and so stoutly denied. To appreciate the discoveries of Galileo, the use of the telescope was necessary ; to repeat the experi- ments of Harvey, much labour was requisite; to fully com- prehend those of Newton, profound mathematical know- ledge was often essential ; but to recognize the facts on which the phrenological doctrines are based, needs no nicely adjusted optical apparatus, they are obvious to the naked eye ; no laborious and intricate experiments, they present themselves in the head of every human being ; no pro- found and peculiar acquirements, but merely the power of distinguishing differences in the dispositions and talents of men, and differences in the form and size of the human cranium and of its various regions. CONCLUSION. 89 Note. — The first edition of this work said too little on the labours of Dr. Andrew Combe, one of the ablest and most influential of phre- nologists. He was one of the founders of the first phrenological society, one of the establishes of the first phrenological journal, and one of the most valuable of its contributors. He has written the most phi- losophical treatise on insanity which yet exists ; and his works on " The Principles of Physiology," " The Physiology of Digestion," and " The management of Infancy," are among the most useful and admired writings of the day. In the works of Dr. Combe, accuracy of observation, great sagacity, and acute thought, are clothed in diction remarkable for its clearness and simplicity ; and the spirit which pervades them is so pure and be- nevolent, that the author wins his way to confidence and esteem with a facility almost peculiar. The controversial papers which he has writ- ten, evince great astuteness and dialectical skill. There is in them nothing of the impetuous, the trenchant, or the terrible ; but around their searching analysis and scathing logic, refined wit and pleasant sarcasm continually play. LECTURES ON PHRENOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS. BY GEORGE COMBE, ESQ LECTURE I. When a young man, I paid much attention to the pre- vailing theories of mental philosophy, frequently meeting a number of friends for the purpose of discussing the opinions of various metaphysical authors, hoping to obtain some practical views of human nature which would be servicea- ble in my intercourse with society, and in the pursuit of my professional avocations. But all my study proved fruit- less of beneficial results, and I ceased to study the works of the metaphysicians. Hoping to obtain some more satis- factory notions of the mental functions from the physiolo- gists, I attended the lectures of Dr. Barclay. All parts of the body were beautifully described, and their uses clearly explained, till he came to the brain ; then was all dark and confused. He took great pains in dissecting that most im- portant organ, but by a wrong method ; he cut it up into slices like a ham, confessing his ignorance of its functions and intimate structure. The physiologists satisfied me no better than the metaphysicians. From the 49th No. of the Edinburgh Review I received nay first information concerning the doctrines of Phrenology. 92 RECEPTION OP IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES. Led away by the boldness of that piece of criticism, I re- ! garded its doctrines as absurd, and its founders as charla tans. For twelve months ensuing I paid no attention to the subject ; indeed, such was the unfavourable impression made on my mind by the Review, that when Dr. Spurz- heim came to Edinburgh, I neglected to attend his first course of lectures, and should probably not have attended him at all, but for a fortunate circumstance. Coming out of the supreme court one day, my friend Mr. Brownlee in- vited me to attend a dissection of a brain, to be performed in his house by Dr. Spurzheim. I availed myself of this opportunity of comparing the method of Gall and Spurz- heim, with that which I had seen practised by Dr. Barclay. Dr. Spurzheim did not slice, but began at the medulla ob- longata, and gradually unfolded the brain by following its structure. In ten minutes he completely refuted the re- viewer's assertions, and finally demonstrated his own ana- tomical views. I immediately commenced to attend the second course I of lectures of Dr. Spurzheim ; and, independently of his physiological views, I found the explanation he gave of mental manifestations to be greatly superior to any with which I was acquainted. This was a great point gained, and I determined to pursue the study by an appeal to nature. Accordingly I purchased books, and sent to London for a large quantity of casts. They arrived in three huge punch- eons ; and when taken out, they covered nearly the whole floor of my drawing room. But when I saw them there, seemingly all alike, my heart sank within me, and I would gladly have buried them in the ground to get rid of them. However, my friends heard of my collection, and I soon had a great many to visit me — some to examine, and some to quiz. When I began seriously to examine them, I soon found that heads apparently alike were in reality very dissimilar. This encouraged me. I pursued my ex- aminations, both of casts and of the heads of living persons, RECEPTION OF IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES. 93 and gradually became firmly convinced of the truth of the new science. The meetings at my house, to hear my ex- planations, became more and more numerous, and in 1822 I was prevailed on to give public lectures. Thus, without the slightest intention on my part, I became a lecturer on phrenology about five years after first attending to the sub- ject. Of this narrative I wish to make two applications. 1. I desire to show you that, in taking up the phrenological doctrines, I was not led away by enthusiasm. 2. I wish to impress on your minds, that it is not by attending a course of lectures that you can become fully acquainted with phre- nology. I deem it impossible to make you so acquaint- ed in a hundred lectures. I come here, not to wage war upon your opinions, but to invite your attention to an im- portant subject; not to convince you of the truth of all the details of phrenology, but to show you how to study and observe for yourselves. I admire not the mental character of those who have too great facility of belief ; and Phreno- logy asks nothing but fair play, and candid, scrutinizing in- vestigation. Phrenology means the philosophy of the human mind, as manifested through the medium of the brain. This philo- sophy, as you know, has been opposed with great violence ; and the opposition has not yet ceased. In being so oppos- Bd, however, it merely shares the fate of all new truths. 1 In every society," says Professor Playfair, " there are some who think themselves interested to maintain things n the condition wherein they have found them. * •* * Even n matters purely intellectual, and in which the abstract ruths of arithmetic and geometry seem alone concerned, he prejudices, the selfishness, and the vanity of those who pursue them, not unfrequently combine to resist improve- nent, and often engage no inconsiderable degree of talent n drawing back instead of pushing forward the machine >f science. The introduction of methods entirely new 94 RECEPTION OF IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES. must often change the relative place of men engaged in scientific pursuits, and must oblige many, after descending from the stations they formerly occupied, to take a lower I position in the scale of intellectual improvement. The en- mity of such men, if they be not animated by a spirit of real candour and the love of truth, is likely to be directed { against methods by which their vanity is mortified, and i their importance lessened." Dissertation, part II. p. 27. It is well known that Harvey was treated with great con- b tumely, and lost much of his practice, on account of his mo- ; i mentous discovery of the circulation of the blood.* Pro- j It fessor Playfair, speaking of Newton's discovery of the com- e position of light, says : " Though the discovery had every i thing to recommend it which can arise from what is great, ' new and singular ; though it was not a theory or system i « of opinions, but the generalization of facts made known by experiments ; and though it was brought forward in a most - cs simple and unpretending form, a host of enemies appear- c ed, each eager to obtain the unfortunate preeminence of being the first to attack conclusions which the unanimous voice of posterity was to confirm."! But the most striking instance, perhaps, of reckless and unprincipled opposition to newly discovered facts, was the opposition made to Galileo's discovery of the satellites of Jupiter. This discovery was made simply from Galileo's having invented a telescope, by which bodies invisible to the naked eye were brought into view. One who violently opposed him he invited to look through the telescope, and see for himself. " No," said his adversary ; " should I look through the telescope, I might perhaps see them ; and then I could no longer deny their existence." This well * Long after the labours of Harvey, when M. Dodart defended, at Paris, a thesis on the circulation of the blood, the old doctors decided, " that the young candidate managed his subject very well, considering the strangeness of the paradox. 7 ' \ Supplement to the Encyclopedia Britannica, part ii. p. 56. THE BRAIN THE ORGAN OP MIND. 95 illustrates the course pursued by the opponents of phreno- logy. The truths of our science are sufficiently obvious; but many fiercely vituperate, yet refuse to look through the telescope. Formerly phrenology was greatly opposed by the reli- gious portion of the community. In this country I have not witnessed much of this. Wherever the religious man places himself in opposition to natural truth, it is deeply to be regretted. All truth is from the same eternal source, whether it be the truth of Philosophy or the truth of Reve- lation. It is impossible to destroy a fact — it remains for ever ; and in opposing it, religious men will always be ultimately found in the wrong. That is, in God's name they will be found to have opposed God's truth, and to have set variance between His word and works. I recollect that, in my youth, I was taught to repeat the catechism of Dr. Watts,in which is this question — " How do you know you have a soul I*' — which is thus answered — " Because there is something in me that thinks and feels, which the body cannot do." This answer is founded on an illusion. It may satisfy a child, but it is palpably erro- neous in the eyes of the physiologist. It rests simply on the circumstance that we are not conscious of the operations of the brain ; yet numerous facts with which we become ac- quainted by means of observation prove that, without its agency, we can neither think nor feel — that it is in short the organ of mind. In support of this proposition I may remark, 1. If the brain be not the organ of mind, its uses are un- known. 2. It is better protected and better supplied with blood than any other part of the body. 3. The nerves of the senses are all connected with the brain : it is the recipient of all their transmissions. 4. The nerves of motion and the nerves of sensation aro all connected, through the medium of the spinal marrow, 96 THE BRAIN THE ORGAN OP MIND. with the brain : it is the fountain of impulse and the reser- voir of sensation. 5. Certain substances, as opium or ardent spirits, disturb mental manifestations by operating on the brain. 6. Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness, occa sioned by recession of blood from the brain. But we have still more direct evidence. Richerand at- tended a woman whose brain had been laid bare. One day he pressed upon it a little more forcibly than usual, and the patient became silent and unconscious in the midst of a sentence. On removing his hand, consciousness im mediately returned. As no pain was felt, he repeated the experiment several times, and always with the same result.* Similar cases are related by many other writers. Sir Ast- ley Cooper relates one, of a seaman who had his skull fractured and brain compressed by a fall. For thirteen months he remained totally unconscious. On Mr. Ciine raising the skull, consciousness immediately returned. The last thing the man recollected was a sea fight in the Medi- terranean, thirteen months before ,t in which he had receiv- ed the injury. But it may be asked how pressure on one part suspends all mental manifestations, if, as phrenologists say, the brain consists of numerous organs ? Let it be recollected that the brain is composed of a pulpy mass, having nume- rous blood vessels ramifying in its substance, and is inclos- ed in membranous sacs, the pia mater and the dura mater. It may be likened to an India rubber bag filled with fluid. Now it is a law of hydrostatics, that pressure made on one part of a fluid affects all parts alike ; consequently, when * Nouveauz Elemens de Physiologie, 7th cd. ii. 195 — 6. t Lectures of Sir As (ley Cooper on Surgery, p. 159. Gall mentions a person who received a wound which penetrated to the corpus callosum, and whenever pus accumulated, he lost the use of the eye of the oppo mte side ; and this blindness disappeared the moment the pus was difl- aharged. Gall. ii. 56. THE BRAIN A CONGERIES OP ORGANS. 97 pressure is made on one part of the brain, all arc equally affected. If the membranes be cut, so as to permit effu- sion of blood, total unconsciousness does not take place from a partial injury. " But," say objectors, " how is it that the brain does not manifest structural derangement after death, when the in- dividual has been afflicted with insanity!" This question %vas more confidently asked some years ago than now : more accurate investigations have shown that, in the great majority of cases, such derangement is demonstrable ; and if it be not always the case, this is not more remarkable than what takes place in other parts, where there may be derangement or destruction of function, without the anat- omist being able to discover organic change. Thus some poisons destroy life, without any structural alteration being visible in any part of the body. Again, to show that the mind is independent of the body, it is said that the mind often fully manifests its faculties to the last moment of life, even in lingering disease. This is not true. It is important to distinguish l^cween functional and organic derangement and simple weakness. Suppose I cut the muscles of my arm across, there would be organic derangement, completely incapacitating me from using my limb. Suppose i should bandage my arm tightly and keep it motionless ibr six months, at the end of that time I should be able to move it in the usual manner, but not with the usual force ; the general structure would remain the same, but the size and power would be greatly diminished. So when the brain is but secondarily affected, the mode of manifestation may remain unchanged to the end of some fatal malady, but the energy will be greatly lessened. Thus, in disease of the lungs, the brain merely suffers, like other parts, sympathetically, and from badly oxygenated blood. At the commencement of the disease, the mind may act with its usual vigour. During the second month the patient thinks but little on subjects requiring mental energy; 9 98 THE BRAIN A CONGERIES OF ORGANS. during the third month he chooses novels or light reading ; during the fourth month he prefers newspaper paragraphs, as requiring little continuous attention ; and afterwards he ceases to read altogether, and does little more than answer simple questions ; yet, because he answers these questions correctly, his mental manifestations are said to be unim- paired. No mistake can be greater. Again, when a part is actively exercised, blood rushes to it with rapidity ; and if the brain be the organ of mind, there should be to it a rush of blood during mental action ; and this is found to be the fact, as many writers testify. Dr. Pierqum observed a patient in one of the hospitals of Montpelier, part of whose skull had been removed. In dreamless sleep the brain lay motionless within the cra- nium ; when she was disturbed by dreams, it was agitated and protruded ; in dreams reported by herself to be vivid, it was more protruded, and still more so when she was awake and engaged in active thought, or sprightly conver- sation. Every act of the will, every flight of the imagination, every glow of affection, every effort of the understanding, is, in fact, manifested by means of the brain. And this pro- position is acknowledged by the greatest anatomists. "We cannot doubt," says Dr. Cullen, "that th* operations of our intellect always depend upon certain motions taking place in the brain." Dr. Gregory remarks that " although memory, imagination and judgment appear to be so purely mental as to have no connection with the body, yet certain diseases which obstruct them prove, that a certain state of the brain is necessary to their proper exercise, and that the brain is the primary organ of the internal powers." Blu- menbach, Magendie, Arnott, nay, even the Edinburgh Re- view, in the 94th number, as well as numerous other au- thorities, give like testimony. It is worthy of observation, that the general notion of the mind's independence of the body is quite modern, the THE BRAIN THE ORGAN OF MIND. rey, and enables it to discover its quarry at immense distaiiu> s# * The external ear is for the purpose of collecting the vi- brations of sound, and we fiu6 the lower animals to have large trumpet-ears, which man imitates, when he wants to hear distinctly, by using an ear-trumpet. In man, the olfactory nerves spread over twenty sqnare inches ; in the seal, over one hundred and twenty — and in this animal the sense is so acute that ti*> hunters have to approach him in the teeth of the wind. There are two dogs, the greyhound and pointer: the first follows the game by its eye, and the last by its smell. The nose of the first * Des Moulins is incorrect. On a retina so constructed it would bo impossible for the rays of light so to arrange themselves as to form a perfect image. What he calls folds of the retina, are nothing more- than the marsupium, a membranous, puckered, fanlike body, which arises from the back of the eye, passes through a division in the retina, and is inserted into the vitreous humour, not far from the foremost or inner edge of the crystalline lens, out of the way of direct vision. The marsupium is thin, vascular and erectile, and assists in so affecting the position of the lens y as to accommodate the eye to variations of distance. With the aid of my ingenious friend Dr. W. C. Wallace, I recently examined the structure of the eagle's eye, and therefore give the above correction with confidence. The principle in the text is not, of course,. affected by this anatomical error. SIZE, CJBTERIS PARIBUS, THE MEASURE OF POWER. 109 is narrow and pointed ; that of the last broad and extend- ed. The sheep excels man in the acuteness of smell, and accordingly, while in it the nerve is thicker than this pen- cil, in man its size is not greater than pack-thread or a thin whip-cord. The mole is remarkable for the acuteness of its smell, and the nerve is very large. It is remarkable for the feebleness of vision — thus, ■ as blind as a mole' is a common saying. Corresponding with this is the smallness of its optic nerve. Lord Jeffrey, in an article which he published in the Edinburgh Review, opposed this doctrine, of size being a measure of power. " The proposition," he says, " is no less contrary to the analogy of all our known organs, than to gen- eral probability. Grandmamma Wolf, in the fairy tale, does, indeed, lean a little to the phrenological heresy, when she has large eyes to see the better. But with this one ven- erable exception, we rather think that it has never been held before, that the strength of vision depends upon the size of the eye, the perfection of hearing on the magnitude of the ear, or the nicety of taste on the breadth of the tongue and palate." Now it happens that so far as the weight of authority is concerned, the venerable grandmamma Wolf has complete advantage over Lord Jeffrey, and fairly beats him out of the field — Soemmering, Cuvier, Monro, Blumenbach, Magen- die, Georget and a host of others, taking her side in the controversy. Blumenbach says: " While animals of the most acute smell have the nasal organs most extensively evolved, precisely the same holds in regard to some barba- rous nations. For instance, in the head of a North American Indian the internal nostrils are of an extraordinary size. The nearest to these in point of magnitude are the internal nostrils of the Ethiopians." Monro primus says : " The sensibility of smell is increased in proportion to the surface ; this will also be found to take place in all the other senses." Suppose that, after these expositions, I were to tell you 10 110 SIZE, CETERIS PARIBUS, THE MEASURE OF POWER. that size has no influence on power in the human brain — would you be disposed to credit the assertion ? I think not. Here is the skull of an infant ; here one of an adult — mark the difference in size. This is the skull of a Swiss ; this of a Hindoo — see how large the one compared with the other — and what says history of their manifestations of power 1 While the one people achieved their independence at an early day, and have maintained it at times against fearful odds, the other have ever been the prey of invaders, and one hundred millions of them are at this moment kept in subjection by forty or fifty thousand Englishmen. Before studying phrenology this last fact was utterly inexplicable to me. The Hindoos are considerably advanced in the arts of civilized life. They have written language, systems of law and religion. And yet, they are utterly unable to contend against a mere handful of Anglo-Saxons. But now the reason is plain, the small comparative size of their brain explains their feebleness. Again, here is the head of a Peruvian Indian, a fair specimen of the race ; see how small compared with the European head ; and you know that a few Spaniards conquered a nation of them. But again, when the brain is below a certain size, idiot- ism is the invariable result. In the lowest class of idiots, the horizontal circumference of the head, taken a little higher than the orbit, varies from 11 to 13 inches; in a full-sized head, the circumference is 22 inches ; in Spur- zheim's skull it is 22J. In such idiots the distance from the root of the nose, backwards over the top of the head to the occipital spine, is only 8 or 9 inches ; in a -full sized- head it is 14; in the skull of Spurzheim it is 13^. Let those who deny the influence of size reconcile these facts with their belief. We challenge them to produce a man with a small sized head, who manifests great general men- tal power. " But," say some, H we know idiots who have large THE HAT DOES NOT INDICATE THE BRAIN'S SIZE. Ill heads." Our reply is — so do we ; but, then, in these cases, the brain is not healthy. A large leg is usually indicative of strength ; but this is not the case when the leg is large from disease. But though disease be absent, if the size of the brain be very deficient, idiocy is invariable, and men remarkable for great force of character, as Bruce, Crom- well, Bonaparte, Franklin, and Burns, invariably have heads of unusual magnitude. But here allow me to save you from error. Many, after hearing this statement, immediately commence to try on the hats of their acquaintance, and are apt to conclude that the man with the largest hat is the most clever. Now, here is a little bit of a mistake. The hat is the measure only of the head's circumference in a part of which he need not be so proud. It does not measure a great part of the intellect, and none at all of the moral sentiments. Hatters, in seeming an- ticipation of moral improvement, have left in the upper part of our hats, ample room for the moral sentiments to sprout and grow. Sir Walter Scott's hatter told me, that the hat of that celebrated individual was one of the smallest which went out of his store. But then the perceptive faculties, which were large in Scott, were not reached by the hat. The up- per and lateral portions of his forehead were only full. Cau- tiousness was little more than moderately, and Concentra- tiveness only moderately developed ; and these organs, taken collectively, determine the circumference of the hat. His forehead and coronal region towered high. ! His head, from the ear to veneration, was the highest I ever beheld; but of these dimensions his hat gave no account. That size has an important influence on the power of man- ifestation, is now admitted even by the Edinburgh Review. In the 94th number appeared a paper written by Dr. Con- nolly, containing this sentence : " The brain is observed pro- gressively to be improved in its structure, and, with refer- ence to the spinal marrow and nerves, augmented in volume more and more, until we reach the human brain, each addi- 112 EFFECTS OF TEMPERAMENT ON CEREBRAL ACTIVITY. tion being marked by some addition to, or amplication of, the powers of the anima] — until in man we behold it pos- sessing some parts of which animals are destitute, and want- ing none which they possess." The principle for which we contend being thus establish- ed, we would remark that it is susceptible of a most import- ant application. It is found, in four cases out of five, that in insanity the nature of the derangement bears direct reference to the predominant organ or organs. Some are affected with melancholia ; in these the organ of cautiousness will be found large. Some fancy themselves the Deity : in these, Self-esteem will be found predominant. Some are furious : in these Destructiveness will be found large. These are gene- rally cases of functional derangement ; and by examining the heads of the insane, I can generally determine with ac- curacy the nature of their derangements. But a small organ may become diseased, and sometimes does so. Most fre- quently, however, the derangement is structural : thus, I have seen a small organ deranged by a spiculum of bone growing into it, and by the pressure of a fungous deposi- tion. Let us now inquire into the circumstances which modify the effects of size. The most important of these is the con- stitution of the brain ; and the question naturally arises — do we possess any means of ascertaining this constitution 1 We do, in the observation of what are called the temperaments, which are ftur in number — the lymphatic, the sanguine, the bilious, and the nervous — each of which is accompanied by a different degree of activity in the brain. The temperaments are supposed to depend upon the condition of particular sys- tems of the body : the brain and nerves being predominantly active seem to produce the nervous temperament ; the lungs and blood-vessels being constitutionally predominant, give rise to the sanguine ; the muscular and fibrous systems be- ing predominant, give rise to what is called the bilious, but which should be called the fibrous temperament ; and the ■ I TEMPERAMENTS EFFECTS OF TEMPERAMENT OX CEREBRAL ACTIVITY. 113 predominance of the glands and assimilating organs give rist* to the lymphatic. The temperaments are indicated by external signs:* 1. The lymphatic is indicated by roundness of form, soft- ness of muscle, fair hair, pale skin, sleepy eyes, and inex- pressive face. In this temperament the brain, and all other parts of the system, are feeble in action, slow and languid. The system seems one great manufactory of fat, and has the appearance of an over ripe gooseberry. 2. The sanguine is indicated by a well-defined form, moderate plumpness, firm flesh, chesnut hair, blue eyes, and ruddy, fair complexion. There is great fondness for exercise and intolerance of muscular quiescence. The brain par- takes of the general activity. 3. The biliousis indicated by black hair, dark skin, mode- rate stoutness, firm flesh, and harsh features. It