The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-28
~ For ne Otsw1ssco CoSrisr,
10 PhrenolOgy q True Science Z
~ n. Z. =. "a

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Phrenology claims to be the Philosophy Of
the human mind founded on the Physiology Of
the brain. The system recognized under this
name 10 Of comparatively recent origin, though
the principle that different parts OF the brain
perform different Offices, is of ancient date.
Phrenology a. such, originated with Dr..
Gal German physician, who was born in
the year l757, and who 6rst publicly prouul-
gated his views in 1896.
Next to Gall msy be reckoned among the
advocates Of Phrenoloey Spsrsheim, born in
1776, pupil and afterward an associate with
Gall. Since the time Of Spurzheim Mr..
George COmbe has occupied . leading place
among Phrenologists. In addition to these II
has found numerous advocates and defenders,
and from - many has met with strenuous and
determined opposition. It has rot yet been
admitted BY the scientific world to the rank Of
an acknowledged science yet is supporters
are numerous, and by their publications, and
through the agency Of travelling lecturers, it is
becoming more and more widely diffased.
Il becomes US then to inquire
'0hsther OF not Phresology e trse Sci
esee' and to this end a, brief summary Of its
principles will be presented, together with thu
objections urged against them.
The principles Of Phrenology according to
their own writers are these:
1st. The Brais il the material organ OF the
mind.
I'd The mind comprises plurality OF in.
nate faculties, each Of which manifests itself
through a particular portion Of the brain q
its organ--and that the brain il congeries Of
these organs.
Sd. That each Of the organs ends at the
periphery Of the brain, producing more or less
development OF the part; and that the sise Of
an organ, ceteris paribus, is measure Of the
power Of its particular faculty.
4th. The outer surface Of the skull and head
corresponds so nearly with the form OF the
brain, that the seat and relative size Of the sev-
eral cerebral organs, can be ascertained from
an examination Of such outer surface.
The first Of these principles, viz. That the
brain is the organ Of the mind, is generally,
though not universally. admitted. There
have been and are, those who deny that ths
mind requires any material organ through
which to manifest itself except in its percep-
tion Of natural objects, and in voluntary mo-
tion. Among these are Mr.. Jeffrey, In an ar
ticle published some years since in the Edin-
burgh Review also writer on the same sub
ject in tie Princeton Review. The principle
j., nevertheless. generally received, even BY
the opposers Of Phrenology. .Ta
The second principle, That the brain is a
congeries Of organs, each engaged in sepa.
rate, distinct, Office, has been, perhaps, more
than any other, subject Of dispute between
Phrenologists and their oppoaers. tits object
ed that the structure Of the brain affords no sv-
idence Of such division and subdivision "a
Phrenology supposes, but on the contrary ab-
solutely contradicts it; and that the various
chronological organs have been in their turn
destroyed or greatly injured without at al de-
bilitating the corresponding faculty.
To this it is replied that the evidence Of a
plurality Of organs rests not on an examina-
tion Of the internal structure Of the brain, but
10 an induction from .faets to which aope.l
must Be made; and moreover that different
portions Of the brain say Be occupied ia dis
tinct Offices, even though our limited powers
may be unable to trace the boundary line be-
tween those portions. The statement thst
portions Of the brain have been removed with
out affecting the corresponding faculty, i ei-
ther denied By Phrenologists, or objected to
on account Of alleged inaccurscy in the obse,
vations; or answered by saying, that the or
gans are double, and though injured in ON
lobe OF the brain, they may remain uniniured
in the other, and still perform their appropri-
ate function. Thin is psrhaps the most i'm
postant principss In PArssel,ey--oae which is
essential 70 the .sys.sn. Upon the whole ~s
doubt whether it cen be- eoneiusively, shown
thatths saPposition u plurality Of organs in
the brain iEsolves any absurdity or impossibil-
iy. The eonectsess of the sappositisn, how
ever, can b established only BY an appsai 10
facts, and unless thy sustain It, It must fall.
The following from Me Human Physiology Of
Danglisoa, who 10 sby no means an advo-
cate - Phrenoiogy, Is q weight. sAs tn.
brain then is admitted 10 BE the organ OF the
intellectual and moral faculties, its struetur,
probably varies according 10 the number and
eharactsr Of those; and IL there Be- primary
andfundameatal faculties, ssch ssay BE con.
ceivedt to havea special organ concerneS n
their production - each OF the. external sense,
has sa organ coneerned In il production"
In the third principle the assumption that
size ia the organ is the measure OF power in
the faculty, has been contested by the oppo.
nents Of Phrenolegy. In support Of the as-
sumption II has been eontended that men dis.
tinguished for force Of charaeter have gener.
ally had : large brain; that idioey results from
smallness Of brain; and that in organised bod
les itisa general principle, that the function Of
aay organ or part in healthy condition il
performed with vigor Proportionsa to ito
bulk. Tothis it is objected that many psrsons
of great Intellectual powers have had email
beads and that idiosy i not always connect.
ed with . small brain but may Be produced bv
neral causes, the brain remaining unchanged
in size, ssd 70 far - ws ean ascertain tree
from aav organic or functional disease, while
the mand passss from state Of activity to one
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