New-York daily tribune., 1842-11-02

NEUROLOGY.

| To the Editor of The Tribune:
SIs-Permit through your columns 70 ca Tue a.'ei.
ton of rejecting minds the important revolution "ucL
is aboute take place in systems OF fhiosophy aHo
| Physiology
The discovery of ,be exci,abily OF the human brain
which constitutes The iaal step of this revolution opens
the widest field research that has ever been e1poreo
human genius few bold pioneers have entered upon tn
field, and gathering cher harvest OF kao"ieuse
than possibly be gathered from any or IRON All Tue oe
parssts OF science that have heretofore attracted aen
tes
To realize this, il IS necessary 10 know Tue eSseh'a
truth that Tx be ercsd II it be true that any eA
terna means can produce such excitement IL parcu
lar portion OF the brain, and higher mahes'ao
OF the function which it possesses, 1t necessarily !oo
that Ibis the only satisfactory and certain way OF learning
the the BRAIN To discover the various part. OF
the human syste p Psychologists have relied upon s''
experiments They have watche the effect OF cutting OF
type nerve so as TO hinder its action ana OF excng oy
mechanical irritation From the shape and situation OF 'ne
bran such experiments upon il are evidently paouea
b and they have been attempted no satisfactory re-
suits have been gained.
Unless therefore, could find some means OF sPeratin
upon the brain TO excite riate arrest its functions With
out mechanical injury, is obvious that we would nave
been compelled 10 grope the dark Tor indefinite perl
od and that Man would probably have been excluded tor
from knowledge OF the secrets OF his own IeaIluy
and wonderfully constructed organism
bsnignnn Providence has otherwise ordained. II has
given rs the mans exciting and restraining cerebral &C
stimulating or benumbing every cerebral couyoulion
and modifying The condition OF the body through Tue
brain 10 such enable us to learn with prec
soa the connections the body with the bran and the
connection Of The brain With the various faculties OF the
mlRd.
There exists class oil constitutions In which the acton oil
the mental faculties deranged by the slightest appca'
ton 10 the head beror slnapsm, gaiVanic cuFteh
or even the warmth and nervous stimulus OF The human
kapd will entirely derange their mental balance and pro-
duce powerful excitement OF the special portion Oh lhe
head which the application IS made Such persons seem
10 have organized for the express purpose OF eh
bling us to understand tie physiognomy and philosophy oil
Man Ii strange, passing strange, ihat during 'e many
centuries since philosophers have speculaed snd
have operated upon the human body this Class OF cons'u
lions has mol attracted this philosophical attention. Ard ii
hive with some difficulty, succeeded in calling The aiten-
ton M the public to this class of constitutions and to the
wonderful results of the experiments made upon thenli
have pointed roya! highway TO The most noble and
important knowledge Man possibly obtain hope thai
Intelligent men will shrink back from the investigation
because results too Astounding and that all VINO are
well disposed the happiness OF their fellow beings VIII
not r-co from the possibility that science may con-
fer greater boon upon humanity than they are prepared
to expect
Earnestly and cordially would invite Investigation
bold fearless and rigid investigation. When thS has Heeh
made by men of science, the astounding truths OF Neuroo-
ey will prove far less wonderful than the fact that when
hey have lain from the earliest period within the grasp oi
Man his path and round about him IN every e1pa-
nation the phenomena of tine nervous system he couu
possibly have avoided seeing that which il was so easy To
perceive and for learning which Nature has given ha SO
jos r. BUCHANAN.