The Van Buren press., 1876-01-25
Phrenology and the Science Of Mind
from the Thssaurum of Nature.

Phrenology and the Science Of Mind
lFrom the Thssaurum of Nature.I
There is no subject known to science
of more interest to the cultivated Of our
race, than that of the human understand
ing. 1t has called forth the greatest ex-
ertions of the most powerful intellects of
every age to endeavor to investigate its
nature, and understand its laws. Not
withstanding the metaphy brought
learning to their aid, they wandered in
mazes of vague speculation that tended
more to bewilder than instruct the stu
dent that might have wished to look into
the phenomena of nature. Systems after
systems were raisel, enduring but sea.
son, then crushing down for want of sus
tanning truth. However some gems were
gathered along the stream of time, from
the rubbish of the numerous systems that
have passed away, which served to cast
a guiding ray to farther endeavors of
thought to penetrate the philosophy Of
mind. Ages upon ages have thus pass.
ed away, marked by this slight advance
ment in the knowledge of this most noble
part of our nature. 1t is only now that
clearer understanding of the relations Of
mind with matter is attained on a basis
that will bear the scrutiny Of reason, and
the investigation of science
Whatever mind may be, as to its indie,
pendence of the body, we know nothing,
SO far as tue Investigations of science
60 We only know that we, in this
mode of existence, have no knowledge
of mind, except as it is made manifest by
matter-and the brain is this matter. The
brain is the organ by which the mind is
made manifest. Notice; this is not say
ing that the brain creates the mind No
more could we say this. than that the
electric machine creates the electricity that
is manifested by its action. The electricity
is not created by the machine; this is but
a means by which the fluid is brought
into condition to be recognized by our
senses. 1t never can be in the power of
to discover how certain or
ganism of matter, by its harmonious ar
evolves, as it were, conscious
ness; but, that it is so. no one can bring
his mind to doubt, who is well.acauaint.
ed with the teachings of physiology,
which is the only method of studying
the intellect that can yield fruit worth the
The Investigations of biologists into
the lower orders of animal life. show
that there is constant advancement
from below upwards, liz she development
of the brain. In the lower forms, where
there is brain it is in rndmentary
state, only having the gangla for the SEN
ses, viz: seeing, hearing, smell
ing, etc, according as its nature is more
or less developed, there being no cere-
bral hemispheres As the scale of ami
NAL existence rises. the gangla of the
senses are covered over by the cerebral
more and more as the ami
NAL shows indications Of intelligence
The more intelligent the animal, the
greater is the development of this part
of the BRAIN. In mah it has reached its
greatest development, it extends forward
aud backward, and upward, covering over
completely all the parts that are common
to the rudimentary brain. So, is, that all !
things hning aansiaarad, thasa paraoas
who. have well developed brains, are
those who have correspondingly superb
or minds.
Gall and Spuzheim devoted themselves
to the study of the contiguration of
heads, and, after much observation and
labor presented to the world Phrenolo-
", lay which it was thought that thu
faculties of the mind might be ascertain
ri by the external examination of the |
mead, For time, some eminent per
sons devoted themselves to PhrepOlogy. |
and confidently expected that it was
great boon to humanity, which it doubt
less would have been, had it stood the
test of experience. But. for many years,
it has not been sustained by any scientific
writer, and it is now considered pseudo |
science by the most eminent Psychologists
at the present time, In some Of the mos
able writer's on psychology and physiolo
gy and pathology of the mind, phrenolo.
gy is not mentioned; from which it is ev-
ident that it is no longer recognized as
to science.
The experimental researches which
have recently been prosecuted by DR..
Ferrier into the functions of different
parts of the brain, by means of the local
lied application of the electrical current
to the different parts of the external sur,
face of the cerebrum promises to ad
vance science very much on the subject
The English government is affordng DR..
Ferrier every possible facility for the
prosecution of this interesting research
by supplying him with monkeys and
other animals upon which to expert
ment. *x*
0. M, Roberts, the Democratic nomi
nee for Chi ief-Justice of the Supreme
Court of Texas, has been in the service
of the State almost without interruption
for thirty two years. He has been four
times Judge of the Supreme Court and
thrice Chief Justice.