New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-16
THE TRIBUNE g..
The science of Neurology.
Tor Of the Tribune;

Until the arrival Of DR.. B. had no definite idea
of iis system. / did not indeed know that my
sfste1l had been found or that his ideas were any
thing more than new edition of Mesmerism illus
rated b. somnarnbulic experiments.
learned TO nv surprise that DR.. Buchanan has
sothing to do with the somnambulisun, cairvoyance
and polryoyunce of Mesmerism-that he does not
pretend to exercise any powers over any human
being by the exercise of his willard that he re-
cards the proceedings of Mesmer and his follow
ers ms en,inently unphilosophical. l have always
thought that experiments made merely for the pur-
pose OF adding to our stock of the marvellous, in
s,ead Of explaining the laws of Nature, were not
q much service to the cause of truth. Twas there
fore disposed to let the operations Of animal mag
netism pass for the present unnoticed, ard wait till
the chaos had been organized into something that
might properly be called science. was not
unwilling to believe, but could not contrive how
to believe what | could not comprehend.
With these sentiments | listened to DR.. Buchan-
anan's Lectures and was gratiied to learn that he
he had taken similar views. DR.. B. has taken an
entirely new field in the scientific world, and en-
lows the enviable distinction Of having brought
forth new and wonderful science This science,
as understand it, offers series of principles
which explains the mechanism of the human body,
and developes those reconcile truths which have
heretofore escaped the attention of Psychologists.
AsI regard it, the science which DIR. Buchanan
reaches is nothing more or less than Physiology,
enlarged or perfected. 1t is that science which
L. &c IT.,
ledge of all the functions of the human body
NV views upon this subject have been gathered
from the Doctors Lectures, from experiments in
private which have witnessed, and from small
pamphle, in which he has laid down the outlines
Of his system. Iconsider Neurology as the COM
ple,e science OF the mind in connection with the
body One half of the propositions of this science
90 10 explain the causes of all ourvarious emotions,
thoughts and feelings. This is done upon the
Psychological principle that every distinct faculty
has distinct organ in the brain. But mark the
distinction between Neurology and Calls system
Of Phrenvlogy.
Dr. Gall located the different organs by COM
pairing the forms of different heads to ascertain
what parts of the brain were large in men who had
sny remarkable faculty or passion. Calls crani
ologg was csed the doctrine of the bumps, and as
indicate the true form of the brain, this procedure
was considered very inaccurate and uncertain. BY
these observations a system Of Phrenology was
formed and the head mapped out into different re-
siaa.sccresponding TO the supposed organs An
stomists then stepped in to say that there were no
such organs in the brain, and that the phrenolog-
cal divisions were entirely fanciful. They said,
too, that if such organs did exist, the skull was too
thick and irregular TO admit of our judging their
size with correcloess by the outside OF the head,
end thus Phrenolegy, which was q groundless theo-
~, was imPractcable if true.
Thus the question stood between the friends ana
the opponents of Phrenology, while the public
looked on--willing to believe and waiting tor fur
Their evidence That evidence has now been adj
duced Dr. Buchanan has discovered species
of evidence which must put to rest forever the
question whether Phrenology DO true or false lie
undiscovered that by the influence OF TIE human
hand by Galyanism, by Magnetism and by various
medicinal agents, the brain can be SO strongly ex-
cited IS to cause all or any of its convolutons to
act with increased power
This increased energy of the organ makes us
clearly conscious of the nature of its junction ana
determines the exact locality of that function. II
we wish 10 know whether the chronological organ
Of Destructiveness is correctly located, Or. bu-
lhanan excites that part of the brain IN some per-
son who is impossible, and asks him what effect
itproduces upon his feelings. If the person upon
whom he operates is very impressible, 1t Will not
be necessary to ask, as the feelings viii be too
srorg to be restrained and will be displayed in the
roanlenance or in action. By this experiment
Dr.. B. has discovered thar what has been called the
organ of Destructiveness manifests functions OF
somewhat different character, and that the true
organ of Destrpctveness lies IN different position
from that IL which it has been assigned by fhren-
opsists BY exciting the organ OF Banevoience'
DR.. B. finds that it produces kindness ana ali Tue
good feeling which have been ascvibed 10 II oy
Gaand his followers. Exciting the organ OF
Lolor produces great fondness for colorsi exclt-
ing Calculation produces a disposition to count OF
calculate; exciting Language produces DISPOSE
lion 10 talk. Thus il is established with the most
positive certainty that some Of the organs given by
Psychologists are correc, and others are not Here
ilestu upon solid basis. Phrenology s at last
science of positive certainty
There are not many persons in whom the organs
can be thus excited utwhen they are, inc results
are so striking and distinct as TO make perfect
demonstration of the science. Over some persons
bs,B. exercises an almost necronianlic lNhuehce'
es The sudden excitement which he Pfoauces "
The diHereat parts of the brain. | have seen Tue
cslinteDance Suddenly change under has operations
asst he held absolute control over the feelings
By great number of such experiments Or. b. has
thoroughly tested the whole chronological system
and established that i, contains many truths aud
great many errors As DR.. B. excites the differ
cnt organs with such facility there no end the
NUMBER OF curious experiments which may be
made in this manner, or to the number of discoye.
mes which may be thus established.
DR.. b, proceeding in bold and philosophical
manner has found this process Of careful expert.
n!eat upon the brain the most profound and beau
tfu system Of mental philosophy which has vet