Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-02
Phrcnology, Etc.

u. 7. As. criticism upon my incidental refer
ence TO phronoogy and urnhamism in the agricul-
tural department Of this paper, leads me to say
that had no intention Of woundng any ones
sensibilitics by the remark am by no means
"prsjudiccd against phrenologyi indeed, could
say Of IT, rs the man said at the Uuiyersalist meet
ing: Blessed doctrinel would give five dol
lars II II were true" was brought up in the be
lief that It ,cas true and continued In that belief
until the study Of the human organism incident
to my profession, brought me reluctantly to the
conclusion that II was an hypothesis insufRciently
sustained by the facts upon which the attempt
was made to base IL, and strongly contadicted by
many other facts, anatomical and mental II
would be impossible to state here the arguments
against phrenology from the scientific side, but II
d. T. A. will look into llamilton's Metaphysics
u have not the work, and cannot now refer him
to chapter and page) he will find these arguments
stated in n way which will, think, satisfy any
mind as fair and intelligent as believe his to be.
Buttherc are few plain matters Of fact that when
considered by any intelligent mind, would seem
sufficiently conclusive without regard to the scien-
tiAc evidence D. T. \. does not, Of course, sup
pose, though he seems TO say 30, that to phrenol-
ogy is due the knowledge that the brain Is the or
gan Of thought and will, or, ms he says, OF the
mind This discovery antedates Gall and Spur
helm many years, and had general acceptance be-
fore they were born. What phrenology claims is,
that the different faculties Of the mind are appor-
toned to different portions Of the brain, and that
these can be mapped upon the outer surface Of
the skull by elevations and depressons through
which the character Of the individul can he cor
l. titn q
ogy, though some Of It's friends have arrogated
for ii the whole field Of mental phenomena, dis
covered and classified by men who refuse all ere
denco to the theories Of the psychologists. A
very small portion of this work was done by Gall
aud Spurzhein, and for this they are entitled to
due credit. But the mapping Of the faculties upon
the skull and the asserted power OF character
reading therefrom, are the all Of "phrenology,"
specially 50 named, and all that referred 10 I'M
der that name.
Now it is a fact Of record that the different
friends Of chronology have never yet been able to
agree, or to approach agreement in mapping the
Uranium. Comparison Of casts used by Spur
helm with those used by Fowler and other lee
turcrs proves this statement conclusiyely, and re-
duces the so-called science TO a series Of guesses.
That there il some definite relation between the
form Of the head and the mental and moral char
acter have little doubt; but that this relation is
general, and not specific, seems sure. To some
extent 1t appears to have been tolenbly well
worked out so that constant study and compari-
son will give to a man Of good percep,iye and roa-
soning powers, and aquick wit, much skill in read
ing character aud the ability, in the position Of
chronological lecturer, Of making some very sue
9
has kept the run Of the subject, knows that the
early claims Of the phrenoogists, wherein thoy
protested to be able to advise, by inspection Of
bumps, in the selection Of occupations, the choice
Of employees, business and marriage partners
etc, have utterly failed These lecturers have
never secured the public confidence to say moth
ing Of scientific endorsement They cannot any
where make living by the sale of their charts, -
or even secure an audience on the merits Of their
so-caled science II this is not sufficient prooi
that phrenology or bumpology, is practically ex-
tinct, don't know what would be. | will add
that not one anatomist, Psychologist, or meta
physician Of acknowledged eminence in the world
to-day, is believer in phrenology nor is taught
in any school Of science And this would seem to
be conclusive as To its scientific claims
As regards the value Of the different portions
Of wheat for human food, let me say that we do
not owe our knowledge on that point, in the
slightest degree to Sylvester Graham. SO far as
he made use OF such knowledge, he was entirely
dependent upon the researches Of others lie had
some truth mixed with his vagares, and so has
phrenology; but it can be said of both, as was so
witty said by the old minister to the young one,
fishing for a compliment ON his sermoui 1T con
sff