Daily national Democrat. [volume] (Marysville, Calif.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-29
9atlg QatlonaI Democrat.
Entomology.

" N0'ii'ii"hlcatlon IN the DEMOCRA
q lew days since, upon Phrenology, brougl
out by a leader in your paper rreviousl
upon the same subject. The writer asser
that the size Of the head. other conditions h,
ing equal, is the principle upon which Phrc
nology Is based, and, furthermore says, tina
1t should be taught in our common school
and colleges. We admit, it should be $,
taught, provided the principles are those O
truth and have been fully demonstrated a,
such. lie takes the heads of Webster an,
Byron to prove the science. Webster's head
according to chronological measurement wa.
~ inches IN circumference. the LARGEST size,
mead. lie also claims large head is an in
olcatlon OF a large brain and according TO III,
Sl2e OF the brain will be the mental NANTES.
tatons. Webster had very large head
with the brain of an acreage sized head a
laid down in Phrenology This proves that
large head may contain a small brain onf
that brain does produce a great man, for al
VIII acknowledge Webster as one of IN,
greatest statesmen America ever produced
The writer states that Byron had an uneom
monty small head, but he had tremendous
quantity of brain and a very active one
suppose the head of Byron had undercon,
an examination in accordance with ubreno.
logical principles. he would have scarce,
been pronounced man of common sense
Inc amount of brain cannot be determined
by an examination of the head. Access
must be had to the interior of the Uranium
before the amount of brain can be ascertain
ed either by weight or measurement If
rons head had been judged by the same
standard as Webster's. he would have been
called almost fool, instead of being the
great genius he proved himself to be. Sun
pose Byron's head had never been onened
the brain removed and eighed what an =
swer would believers in this beautiful theory
have given when asked to point out phreno.
logically the traits of his character We see
half OF the principles must be applied while
living and the remainder when dead, for it is
an utter impossbility to determine the
weight of the brain while living.
lee same writer asserts that the action of
the brain must also be taken into considera-
ton. To prove the action of the brain. he
refers us to the temperaments or the consti
tuition OF the body or physical organization
which gives action to the brain. Must not n
person understand the anatomy Of the sys-
TEN, be perfectly familiar with every bone.
artery and muscle of the human organization.
to ascertain the amount of vitality conveyed
to the brain to determine its action? Phre-
biologists themselves admit the temperaments
are capable of being modified and changed
by the habits, diet and exercise of the indi-
Sidual We ask how is it possible for
Phrenologist, stranger, TO determine the
Compartments of an individual unless he can
determine the quantity and quality of food
taken into the system, and the amount of ex
ercise taken each day or week by the indi-
Vidual? IL the bodily exercise is great, it
must necessarily follow that the mental man
ifestations will also be great, for upon the
exercise of the body depends the amount of
vitality conveyed to the brain. The science
of chronology is beautiful in theory, but will
not bear examination Neither can it be
truly applied, for the general principles are
not correct. Neither can these principles be
applied, as we have proved, in the case of
Byron.
The writer in his article trips lightly over
Voltaire and Napoleon, both being possessed
'Ofsmall heads, and states they prove nothing
We contend they prove strongly against the
big head system, for Napoleon was the great
est warrior of modern times, and Yoltaire as
writer could not be surpassed in his day and
generation.
If the science is not correct or its princ-
pies, we should be decidedly opposed to its
Introduction into schools, for error should
not be instilled into the minds of childran
J.