Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-04
PHRENOLOGY.

the manifestations OF mlnd are VI uiHereht MINUS,
and directed to different objects and purposes,
and never appear al! at one and the same f'me'
the brain is not q single organ, but conseries
of dreams. This principle is also deduced from
observation and experiment. 1t is one not so
resaiiy admitted as the former, though 1t IS as
easi,y demonstrated. When once we have as
certained that we possess different mental faeal-
ties, analogy leads US TO expect that each facui-
~ has a separate organ through which It mani
tests itself, because we do not, on any occasion,
exercise all our faculties simultaneously. There
IL an organ for digestion, another Tor secreting
bile, another for circulating the blood, another
for purifying it from superHuous matter, among
the animal functIons. Then we have the eye
for seeing, the ear for hearing, the tongue for
tasting, the nose for smelling, the fingers for
feeling. IL, therefore, the brain be the organ OF
the mind, as il has been admitted to be. during
ages, BY anatomists aud psychologists. can there
be any difficulty in conceising, apriori. it the
feeling of charity be feeling distinct from ma.
ievoience, that they have each distinct appara-
tus for their manifestation? do not speak here
of analogy as proving any thing; but only refer
IN il to shew that it is strong enough to induce
man of philosophical and observant mind to
pursue the study; for observation and experiment
prove distinctly that the brain is congeries OF
orsans. There is no dispute about the various
mental faculties appearing IN succession; and, &c.
nerally, the rejecting powers are the latest OF
reaching maturity. In the child, It ~ the mid.
die part Of the forehead that is most prominent;
and when manhood approaches. the upper lateral
parts are more developed; and these facts accord
with the gradual increase Of manifestation OF the
knowing and rejecting faculties. If the brain
were one single organ, this gradual development
would be the reverse Of what we should expect,
a priori. -,
Genius, If the brain were one organ, could
not be partial. as il almost almost alwaysis. By
such supposition. the phenomena OF dreaming
cannot be explained, because they are at COM
o,ete variance with it. Were the brain one sim
Ole organ, dreaming could not take place at all.
Pinel, who is hostile to Phrenologv, admits that
partial idiocy, or partial insanity. cannot be re.
concied to the notion of the brain being single
organ Of the mind. Every writer on insanity
sueaks OF partial development Of certain mental
powers in idiots. Rush not only refers to intel.
Iect, but to moral powers, and notices that some
idiots are as remarkable for correct moral feel.
ings, as some men Of great genius are for the
contrary.
Pinei gives an instance Of girl who had a
constant desire TO initiate whatever she heard or
saw, but who was an absolute idiot In every thing
else, aud attached no ideas to the sounds she Ut
markable for his religious feelings, although ex'
ceedinsly deficient in intellect and moral senti.
ment Numberless instances of partial idiocy
are on record, aud may be found every day. 1t
should be observed that, whatever be the cOndi.
ton Of mind IN any such Individuals, It never
changes Hence, If the brain were single or.
gan, aud a deficiency Of the single organ the
cause of idiocy, such phenomena ought not to
appear. II has been observed by DR.. COmbe,
that the difference 10 the kind Of powers mani
tested in cases of partial idiocy, between the
capacity for mechanics. for instance, and the
sentiment Of Veneration, Self Esteem, or OF Be-
nevolence, is as great as between the sensations
excited by the perception OF sound, taste, or
a smell. To infer, therefore, that one organ
serves for the manifestation Of all these facul-
ties, is really much the same. ia point Of logic,
as If we were to suppose all the external senses
to communicate with the mind through the me.
dium Of one nerve, in spite Of the facts OF many
individuals being blind who are not deaf, or deaf
and still able to see and smell.
Monomania also furnishes arguments against
the notion of one single organ performing the func.
tions of all the mental faculties; for If the or
gan be sufficiently sound TO manifest one power
perfectly, it ought to be able to exhibit all; but
this il contradicted BY fact Let US hear what
Pinel saws: +" Hospitals for the insane" says
he, are never without some example OF ina
mia, marked BY acts Of extravaganza, or even
Of fury, with kind of judgment preserved in
all its integrity it We judge OF it BY the CONVEX
sa,ion. The insane person gives the most just
and precise answers to the questions OF the Gu.
rious; no incoherenee Of ideas is discernible; he
reads and writes letters as it his understanding
were perfectly sound; yet. by singular con-
trast he tears his clothes and bedding to pieces,
and always finds some plausible pretext to justi-
fy his fury"
Or another case the came author says, cit is
difficult to conceive the nature Of one species OF
alienation OF mind. II consists, as it we're, Of
. combination OF reason and extravaganza, Of
discernment and delirium, which appear so in.
consistent. as reciprocaly to exclude each other.
One lunatic, whose masdy is of seven years.
standing. is perfectly aware Of his state, and
forms as sound judgment Of it as If it were a
thing that did not Immediately concern himself.
He tries to make efforts to Tree himself from it;
but, on the ~ hand, he is convinced that it is
..-...kI. ous reunar Ia the Inco here IN