The pilgrim's progress in phrenology / by Uncle Toby [pseud.].

  • North, Elisha, 1771-1843.
Date:
1836
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The pilgrim's progress in phrenology / by Uncle Toby [pseud.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    needed in adopting the opinions of even great and good men. In illustration, the pupil is reminded that JLavater had a large bump of self-esteem and a mammoth nose. This organiza- tion probably induced him to think that a large nose was a sign of a great genius ; while even plebeians know that we do not reason and judge with our noses. [See Lavater's Physiognomy.] This treatise, by the way, contained a med- ley of judicious observations, ingenious conjectures, and fan- ciful reveries. And it produced a sort of hallucination throughout the civilized world. It might have stimulated to inquiries with respect to organology. Lavater predicted the discoveries, since made, in regard to organology. Dr. Gall Had a mammoth head. Hence he might have held such heads in higher estimation than real facts will jus tify. Note.—Since the above was written, I have learned from a paper in the annals of phrenology, Boston, that Gall's head in circumference was twenty-two inches and two lines. That its perisphere was fourteen inches and nine lines. These dimensions are somewhat less than two casts, which I had seen of his head. An allowance by the reader will be made for what is stated above. I know persons among my ac- quaintance who have large heads, and probably less talent. Dr. Spurzheim's head, although large, was somewhat small- er than Dr. Gall's. Phrenologists believe, however, the brain of Spurzheim to have been more metaphysical, than that of Dr. Gall. Again: The organs of self-esteem, and love of approbation, in the heads of Gall and Spurzheim, when they were zealous- ly in search of bumps and cerebral organs, beneath said pro- tuberances, may have occasioned them to do manifest injus- tice to the good and mammoth properties of the human soul. The above remarks have allusion to the three years which were devoted by Gall and Spurzheim to visiting and teachin°- in about thirty-six cities, or scientific places, on the continent of Europe. [See their biography.] I maintain that it is impossible to make a system of tenable mental or moral philosophy, without investigating the active properties of both soul and body. Equity requires that I should say, in this place, that Dr. Spurzheim repeatedly denies, in his works, that either he or Dr. Gall neglect to attend to the structure or temperament of the brain in their investigations. He admits, however, that they make no enquiries with respect to the nature of the soul. J he soul is the most important part of a man ; and certainly