New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-17
MA NOT DErEyDENT on BR I'm.

The views expressed at the Washington cOnven-
ton of the physicians of insane ssyiums indicate
somew hat the course of scientific opinion to the
functions of the brain To the poets and To the pop
ular conception. the human skull will long remain
&" the dome of thought, the palace of the mind" 10
the student Of physiology, the seat OF the mental
processes has been gradually narrowing and reced-
ing tIll finally DIR. Clark of Toronto tells us that no
satisfactory evidence proves that mentality is local
ized beyond focal point of the nerves at the base
of the brain. We can better appreciate how great is
tins change from former views, il we compare with
such a conception, the notions on which chronology
was based when the various attributes of mind were
supposed to display themselves 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 phrenol-
ogy must be sacrificed. BraIn-powcr, the new doc
trine teaches is not dependent alone the size Of
the skulls contents Probably also. consderai ions
of shape will follow those of size: people with high
forehcads Will gain reputation from their frontal
expanses, and head as lOw-crowned that of
Mound Builder will be credited with a full average
supply Of intellect.
Ii 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 more of
their brains, succeeded IN keeping quite as much
sense as they had ever possessed. This was par
italy explained the theory that either half of
the brain may perform tho functions of the whole.
But other instances were related where the full
mental capacity survived a partial loss of both
hemispheres of the brain. However, there was the
cerebellum, the little brain, TO fall back upon.
great deal of faith has been pinned to the cerebel
lum by scientific folks who have lost faith in their
d. IN. ia -
Oshkosh, with the post norton examination of a
patient who interested in the news of the day,
conversed intelligenty on politics. religion and
science. and was well yersed in English literature,
yet had suffered from disease which wasted
away side of her cerebrum and the other
side of her cerebellum, till neither was Of
one-fourth the natural size. Such instances seem
more conclusive than the famous experiments
upon pigeons, in which the birds not only
survived the extIrpation of their entire brains,
but even regained, apparently, their normal
and capacity after the lapse of few weeks.
If 1t be conceded that the mental faculties reside
in the focus of at the base of the BRAIN there
will be less difficulty in obtaining correct notions
about the insect world. Few insects have any
brains, yet many of them-as, for instance, Sir
John Lubbocks ants-have sound, discriminating
intellects. In fact, certain savage ants of South
America hold tracts of land, and wage successful
war against man when he attempts to plant resi-
dence on their domain. Big brains. in that case
are powerless against no brains. What then, it
may DO ssed is the of the organ in question, if
1t does not serve as the seat of mind DIR. Brown
Sequards answer was that the brain. like the hand
does the work Of the mind, 1t is ordered; but is
the instrument, not the motor. That view of the
matter suggests ut least sensible precept il our
brains are mere tools. we should at all events
aud keep them in good order