Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-05
PHRENOLOGY.

siye a general view of the important discoveries
Of Mr. Charles Bell. | must content myself
with barely mentioning them. Many authors
had conjectured that there must be different
nerves for motion and for sensibility, because 1t
VAS found that the power OF moving was some
times lost. while sensibilty remained. and utce
versa. Mr. Bell has succeeded IN demonstrate
ins this to be the facts and beg to refer to that
yentleman's 2d vol. of the Anatomy and Physi-
olosy of the human body. I have mentioned this
discovery, in order to meet an objection which is
sometimes started, that il is impossible TO dis
,insuish separate and distinct organs in the mass
of the brain. II has been deemed impossible to
find any thing within the sheath OF nerve but
a puIpous amOrphous mass. But u has been
found that this mass consists Ut various hla.
ments, and that each flament appears to have
its distinct Office in regard to the conveyance OF
perceptions, and executing various motions.-
Some nerves convey the perception OF pain when
thew are injured, aud others do not; and vet no
difference whatever in the appearance OF the mat
ter of which they are composed can be discern
ed The spinal marrow is made up OF two sets
of cords, three on each slde,-one for sensation,
one for voluntary motion, and one tor the act OF
respiration; vet no difference in their compost.
ton is pereept,ble. When, therefore. we find
completely Of functions, we may confidently pre-.
not vet, in every instance, be able to exhibit the
organs separately with distinct limits. Every
discovery that has been made, proves the predl'
cation to be correct; aud hence il is idle and sill.
Iy to object to the plurality Of organs, that each
cannot be exhibited with boundary line, and of
a different substance. IL is sufficient that we
approximate to this near enough tor practical
purposes In reality, this kind ut objection Is
the sane as If any one were asked t" shew, in
beam of White light, the boundary OF each CO.
Tor of the prismatic spectrum. Anatomy and
physiological experiment NAV yet do as much Tor
the nervous system the prism has done for light
The principle, then, that the brain Is a congo
ries of organs, adapted TO the manifestation, of
the mental faculties, is proved by the phenome
ma contradictins the notion that the brain is
single organ. The notion Of the unity Of mind
is not, a some may suppose. destroyed 10y this
principle; II is not so. any more than the unity
of the moving p"wer of a machine is destroyed
by the appara'us IL ia made to direct 10 the per
furmance Of a variety ut purposes.
Having shewn that the reception which Phre
uolusy has met with, affords no presumption that
Il i. untrue, since all great discoveries have been
similarly treated; that we can only cognise mind
as il is connected with matter, and not as a Sc
parate and distinct entity; that ANTAGONISTS and
psychologists admit the brain to be the organ Of
the mind; that every affection Of the brain affects
the mind; that the analogy OF the hive senses and
other parts Of the body, the successive appear
ance Of faculties as the body grows, the pheno-
mena Of partial genius, partial insanity, partial
Injuries OF the brain, furnish presumptive evil
dence that the operations Of mind depend on a
variety Of organs; we cone to the fourth funda.
mental principle Of Phrenology, that it is ge
neral principle throughout nature, that size, all
other things being the same, is measure Of pow.
er; and that large brain indicates greater pow.
er than a small one: and that, all other things
s,ill being the same, and the brain congrries of
organs, size in each organ as compared with an.
other, indicates proportional power. Into this
branch Of the inquiry, extensive though it be,
do not intend to enter at any great length, not
wishing to encroach too much on the time Of the
Society.
There is, indeed, no difficulty in proving.
that, in every department OF organized nature,
other things being the same. size Is a measure OF
power. A full treatment of the subject may be
found IN the 4th volume Of the chronological
Journal. Mr. Jeffrev has rdiculed the idea; but
we have to pitch against him the authority Of
Monro. B:umeubsch. Soemmering, Cuver, Ma.
yendie, Georset, and number OF other phy>io-
logists. would only ask Mr. Jeffrey, or any
one who has published against Phrenolosy. to
produce an instance Of vigorous manifestation Of
mind in persons with such as that which now
exnibt.-( Bobbis Aud contrasted with Captain
Pasry.) Magend,e, in his Cc'npend'um Of Ply.
siolosy, says, that d" the volume Of the brain is
generally in direct proportion to the capacity OF
the mind; but that we ought not to suppose. that
every mau having large head, is necessarily a
person Of superior intelligence: for there are ma.
nv causes besides the size of the brain. Of an
augmentation of the volume Of the head; but it
rarely happens that man distinguished by his
wStal faculties has not a large head The only
living 1stlmating the volume Of the brain, in
the skull: es.,is to measure the dimensions Of
BY Camper. is uiter means. even that proposed
the Gath number of the" We have also, in
following pGs,age: cit is iiharsh Review, the
alone that we can trace graduarerV'u system
provision for the subcrdinatlUn of oneess IN the
another, and OF all to man; and are ena6Nsa.l to
as,uclate every faculty which gives superiority.
with some addition To the nervous mass, even
from the smallest indications of sensation and
will nm fp the biuheSt DECREE of seos,h;ltr