Familiar lessons on phrenology : designed for the use of children and youth / by Mrs. L.N. Fowler.

  • Fowler, Lydia F. (Lydia Folger), 1823-1879.
Date:
1884
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Familiar lessons on phrenology : designed for the use of children and youth / by Mrs. L.N. Fowler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    TEMPERAMENTS. home, you will accomplish nothing. Bat if I go as your pilot, X will ensure you success. . 5. You can now see, children, that all these faculties must be m concert, beside many others that I could mention, to gratify only one thing, or organ, as Alimentiveness. Questions.—1. How do all the organs act ? What may we imagine the organs to be ? 2. What was the conversation of Alimentiveness and Acquisitiveness? State who spoke next. 3. State whom he disturbed, and what the effect was. State what Secretiveness said. 4, State what Cautiousness said. 5. State what is said of all these faculties. CHAPTER X. TEMPERAMENTS, 1. As there are different qualities of brain, and differently shaped heads, so there is a great diversity in the bodies of different individuals; and, as I have pre¬ viously told you, the state of the body affects the vigour and activity of the mind. 2. There are three conditions of the body which are called Temperaments. These depend on the constitution of different parts of the body, 3. Vital Temperament.—The Vital or Sanguine Temperament is predominant, when those organs which supply life or vitality are very large and active ; as the heart, lungs, stomach, &c. It gives a fullness and roundness to the body; the cheeks are usually full, plump, and fleshy; the shoulders are broad, the chest is full, the pulse strong, the base of the face and brain large. Persons with this temperament have blue eyes, fair complexion, light hair, and a fresh and ruddy countenance, 4. They enjoy life, are very fond of the open air, are generally healthy, and have a strong and hardy constitution, They are not fond of hard work, or great mental labour; but like action and exercise, and are generally good-natured, kind, affectionate, and sympathising, and, with proper care, live to a good old age. When the Vital Temperament becomes diseased, it is called the Lympathic; then, the person is sluggish, indolent, inactive, and the brain is feeble in action, the skin is soft, and muscles weak. 5. Motive Temperament.—Those persons in whom the Motive or Muscular Temperament predominates, have black hair, dark skin, hard bones, strong muscles large joints, and a moderate degree of fullness and plumpness to the body. All that belong to the framework of the body, of which I have previously spoken, are fully developed. They have a squareness of body, and high cheek-bones. 6. This temperament, or condition of the body, gives hardiness and endurance, a love of exercise and hard work, They have real energy of character, and generally accomplish what they undertake. Those who have soft bones and muscles may love to do some kinds of work, but they cannot endure much fatigue or excessive labour. 7. Mental Temperament.—The Motive and Vital Temperaments depend much on the body, and their strength depends on the strength of the body; but the Nervous or Mental Temperament depends on the exercise of the brain and nerves. If these predominate, we say a person has the Mental or Nervous Temperament, The signs of this organisation are light, fine hair, thin, clear, and delicate skin, a small frame, a small chest, sparkling eyes, and quickness of motion. The brain and nervous system are very active, and lead the person to think, read, study, and acquire knowledge. 8. When all the temperaments are happily blended, they give the possessor a great degree of physical and mental power, great activity, great power of thought and feeling, and dispose a person to engage in intellectual pursuits, or in some active business, which requires mental and physical strength. If one of these be wanting, there will be a want of balance to the mind, as for example,— 9. Suppose a person has a very large and active Mental Temperament, with small Vital or Motive; he might be very intellectual and fond of literary pursuits, but would not have strength of body to carry out his plans. This is the reason why those persons who are very smart, bright, and precocious, and mature early, die young ; because all their vitality is expended through their brain and nervous system. 10. If a person have large Vital and Motive Temperaments,with very small Mental, he will have a great many animal wants and desires; his thoughts will be confined mostly to his body, and he will care very little for the cultivation of his inmd. He will not spend his time in hard study and thought, but will be most anxious to know “ what he shall eat, and wherewithal he shall be clothed.”