The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-09-04
The BRAIN.

Questioning ~ to tho True seat OF the
Intelligence.
Prom the New York Tribune.
The views expl essed at the Washington
convention of tie physicians of insane
asylums indicate somewhat the course
of scientific opinion as to the functions of
the brain. To the poet, and to the pop
ular conception, the human skull will
long remain the "dome of thought, the
palace of the mind" To the student of
physiology, the seat Of mental process
had been gradually narrowing and reced-
ing, until finally DR.. Clark of Toronto,
tells US that no satisfactory evidence
proves that mentality is localized beyond
focal point of the nerves at the base Of
the brain. We can better appreciate
how great is the change from former
views, if We compare with such a con-
ception. the notions on which phrenology
was based when the various attributes or
mind were supposed to display them
selves in the ''bumps" of the skull, and,
by consequence, to reside on or near the
circumference of the organ within. If
the new views are to be accepted, much
more than phrenology must be sacrificed.
Brain power, the new doctrine teaches, is
not dependent alone on the size of the
skulls contents. Probably, also, consid
erations of shape will follow those Of
size; people with high foreheads will
gain no reputation from their frontal ex-
panses, and head as low crowned as
that of mound builder will be credited
with full average supply of intellect
It must be admitted that there are
some facts hard to explain under the old
doctrine. DR.. Brown-Sequard described
few years ago large number of cases
where people who had lost half or NOR.
of their brains succeeded in keeping
quite as much sense as they had evel
possessed. This was partially explained
in the theory that either half Of the brair
may perform the function of the whole
But other instances were related where
the full mental capacity survived par
tial loss OF both hemispheres of the brain
However, there was the cerebellum, tn
little brain, to fall back upon. A grea
deal of faith has been pinned to the Ger
ebellum by scientific folks who have los
faith in their brains. But now come
DR.. Walter Kemper, Of Oshkosh, wit
the post-mortem examination of the pa
tient who was interested in the news o
the day, conversed intelligently on poll
tics. religion, and science, and was vel
versed in English literature, yet had SUI
fered from disease which wasted ava,
one side Of her cerebrum, till neithe
was one-forth the natural size. Such in
stances seem more conclusive than tn
the famous experiments upon pigeons
in which the birds not only survived tn
exterpation of the entire brains but eve
regained, apparently, their normal sense
and capacity after the lapse of fe,
weeks.
If It be conceded the mental faculhe
reside in the focus OF nerves at the base {
2 the BRAIN and will be less difficulty in oil
tanning correct notions about the inset
world. Few insects have no brains, "
= many of them-as for instance, Sir job
! ! Lubbock's ants-have sound, dlscrimil
! ating intellects. In fact, certain savae
ants in South America hold tracts {
land, and wage successful war again
, man when he attempts to plant res
: : dence on their dominion. Big brain
i in that case are powerless against +
brains. What, then, it may be asked,
:, the use of the organ in question, If
does not serve as the seat of mind. d
I Brown-Sequard's answer was that tt
> brain. like the hand, does the work
!: the mind, as it is ordered; but is the /
- strument, not the motor. That view
). the matter suggests al least one sensib
" precept; if our brains are mere tools '
y should at all events keep them in go'
y order