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of Phrenology among those classes where that diffusion may be rationally expected.

4thly, How far that diffusion has extended.

5thly, By what means that diffusion may best be still further urged.

As to the first point:-We have often thought that the objections of the opponents of Phrenology, and the expectations of phrenologists themselves, are unreasonable as to the classes of individuals to whom they allude as disavowing or avowing their acquiescence in the doctrines of Phrenology. A host of names is called over, comprising individuals well known as the leading doctors in other sciences, and our opponents say to us exultingly-" Here are individuals of the highest talent, men accustomed to investigate scientific questions, and these have not become phrenologists; therefore we withhold assent." The tone of our friends is little less adverse:-Why is it," they exclaim, "that men thus engaged in exploring the fields of science have not yet, by a careful and accurate examination of the principles and evidence of Phrenology, induced a conviction into their own minds of its truth and value; is not this fact in itself somewhat remarkable, if we are to consider those principles and that evidence as having just foundation ?"

The consequences drawn in each of these cases appear to us equally unwarranted and inconclusive. The individuals to whom allusion is thus made are professors, each of some particular science; and to that alone, or chiefly, does each one devote his attention, little regarding the discoveries or theories announced in connection with others. It would surely be but a poor argument against the truth of the discoveries of a Davy, that a Stewart or a Buckland had not yet expressed his confidence in their correctness. Why with any greater appearance of reason should the names which stand high in geological, in mineralogical, in botanical, or in philological science, be quoted as not being at present attached to the list of believers in Phrenology, and as therefore affording a good argument against its truth? The latter science is, as these professors conceive, in no apparent way connected immediately with the sciences to whose investigation their attention is directed; and it would be unreasonable to expect that they should devote their time to the examination of a comparatively recent science, the importance of which has not yet been forced immediately upon their attention. Not that we would be understood as implying that a knowledge of Phrenology would be otherwise than highly beneficial to every man who enters the temple of science, be it at whatever portal, but merely as stating, that this advantage cannot yet have become generally evident.

Phrenology at present stands on the footing of the other

sciences;-it is considered as a simple study sui generis, and as the peculiar object, therefore, of the research and investigation of particular individuals. The science of metaphysics has hitherto been one whose professors have been perhaps less numerous than those of most other sciences; and the system of Phrenology being that which supersedes and must ere long supplant metaphysics, if its professors are few there can be no just cause for surprise. The most just cause for surprise which we can perceive is, that already, in the very short space of time during which the new system has been before the world, so many professors of other and at first sight, quite unconnected-sciences have become avowed and practical Phrenologists.

The only species of assent which can fairly be expected to be expressed by the body of the great in science and philosophy, educated according to the present systems, is the passive assent of silent acquiescence. Seldom are they called upon for an opinion; and when they are so, what is their almost universal answer?" We have not examined the subject, but it seems a fanciful theory." It seems a "fanciful theory" to them, simply because they have not examined the subject; not because, having thoroughly pursued the train of argument and evidence adduced by the phrenologist, they have arrived at a negative verdict. "Fanciful theory" it is called by them simply because, not having examined it, they do not understand it or its claims, or the nature of its pretensions; and because, having been educated with different views, they feel the natural repugnance which ever exists in the human mind to acknowledging an alteration in those views without sufficient reason,and a sufficient reason they cannot have until they have devoted much more leisure than they are able or willing to give to a close examination of the principles and evidence upon which Phrenology is founded.

The candid opponent of Phrenology will see, we think, in these observations the real ground of the passive non-acquiescence of scientific men in general in the doctrines of Phrenology. It is not until a favourable impression of the science is firmly established in the minds of all from a perception of the beneficial tendency of the practical results which flow from its diffusion and application, that a passive acquiescence will be yielded by these parties. They will then yield that species of assent which alone can be expected from them; just as the chemist, the botanist, or the geologist now yields his passive acquiescence in the deductions of astronomy. These latter, when first announced, were received with incredulity; but having, through a long course of years, been confirmed by all who have thoroughly investigated the subject, others now bestow their assent upon the principles of the science, although at first they might, and we

know did, consider it as a fanciful and even an impious theory. It is not that all the great in science and philosophy have themselves examined the evidence upon which astronomy is founded; but it is that the system having been uniformly found, by those who have examined into its evidence and principles, to be consistent, harmonious, and thoroughly reconcileable with all known and obvious phenomena, and the truth of its principles having been found to be corroborated by every fresh discovery, it has at length taken its place among the established sciences, and a silent but implied assent-passive merely-has been given to it by all professors of each other science.

And so it will be with Phrenology. When it is rendered clear that every present circumstance, and fresh discovery, harmonizes with the principles and doctrines of that science, and that by its means effects are wrought and phenomena explained hitherto, considered as inexplicable, then will a passive assent be yielded to its truth by those who may never have examined one iota of its evidence. Its principles will be universally acknowledged, but its practice must, according to the very doctrines which it teaches, be ever confined to particular individuals.

The phrenologist will know that there is another cause in operation which must prevent some of the professors of other sciences from expressing their acquiescence in our views, we mean their possessing a phrenological development which will not allow them, even if they should examine the evidence, to perceive the relations between phenomena and the conclusions drawn according to the true principles of inductive philosophy. We will say nothing here of the effect of Love of Approbation upon many minds, on the first announcement of a new system opposed to the prejudices of antiquity, fashion, and opinion, though that may not be without considerable influence in causing an avowed dissent.

The conclusion, then, which we draw from the above observations is briefly this:-that it ought to excite no surprise in the mind of the friend of Phrenology, and ought to be consi dered as no valid argument in the mouth of the opponent of Phrenology, that the body of the great in science and philosophy in general, have not hitherto expressed their acquiescence in the doctrines of the phrenological system.

Having thus endeavoured to shew that the doctors and professors of other sciences cannot in reason be expected to examine into the evidence connected with, and cannot therefore be qualified to offer a correct and impartial opinion concerning, the prin ciples of Phrenology, we proceed to inquire if there is any other class of men who may be expected to withhold assent, or to express a more decided dissent from the truth of the science.

Two classes of individuals present themselves as being in all

probability thus disposed, and these are those whose office it has hitherto been to expound, but upon far different principles, the subjects of which Phrenology takes cognizance. These two classes, it needs hardly to be stated, are the metaphysicians, who perceive in Phrenology a science which professes to explain upon more exact and just principles those mental phenomena concerning which they have been in the habit of dogmatizing after their own fashion, and the physiologists, who cannot but take it amiss that the structure and uses of the human brain, both of which have hitherto been considered inexplicable and complete terræ incognitæ, having evaded their most careful investigations, are thus plausibly and consistently announced by the followers of a novel system.

It is needless to enter here into the causes which operate on the minds of these two classes of individuals. They must be sufficiently obvious to every intelligent observer. That they are strong and powerful there can be no doubt, and the present generation must have passed away before they can cease to ope rate. Any individuals gained over from these bodies, must be considered, therefore, as doubly valuable, and as affording double testimony to the soundness of the more recent system. That many names connected with them are enrolled among the firmest advocates of Phrenology, should therefore be looked upon as just cause for congratulation to phrenologists, and should afford to their minds great confirmation of the correctness of the views which they have adopted.*

We thus perceive, that when the phrenologist looks around and endeavours to form an estimate of the numbers who have joined his ranks, he may fairly calculate upon excluding a large proportion of that class of persons usually termed "scientific men," and the whole body of established metaphysicians and physiologists: if he finds any friends among either of these classes, he may justly set them down to the credit-side of the account as clear and unanticipated gain. The class among whose members he must look for support, is that large body of the public attached to no exclusive branch of science, and biassed by no espe cial prejudice against his views. If, therefore, upon examination, he finds that in proportion as the doctrines of Phrenology have been expounded to this class, they have been received, and the cause of their truth espoused, he may justly congratulate himself upon the flourishing and progressing state of the science which he advocates. He must not, however, be too sanguine. He must recollect that there are necessarily considerable drawbacks to the rapid diffusion of every system founded upon novel principles. He must remember, that though the members of this class are, comparatively speaking, free from prejudice either

See "Phrenology Vindicated," p. 24.

in favour of or against any particular system or science, yet they are somewhat accustomed to look up for information and guidance on these subjects to the very parties who have been last specified as being, for obvious and natural reasons, the most opposed to his system. There are other circumstances, too, which tend to retard the diffusion of a science like Phrenology; circumstances which it is unnecessary here to specify, but which contribute, and perhaps hardly in a minor degree, to check its rapid progress.

The existence of the various cheeks thus noticed being borne in mind as causes likely to influence the minds even of the most impartial among all classes, the inquirer, paying some attention to the suggestions which will presently be stated, may commence his calculations as to the numbers of those who are favourably disposed to the views which he entertains.

One peculiarity will soon become discernible in the course of his observations, viz. that the progress of Phrenology has been in no slight degree local-rapid and soundly based in some places, slow and imperfectly promoted in others. To the causes of this peculiarity we shall next direct the attention of the reader, as in so doing we shall perhaps remove some difficulties connected with the points to which we shall subsequently have occasion to allude.

(To be continued.)

ARTICLE X.

CASE OF DISEASE IN THE ORGAN OF COMBATIVENESS ON THE LEFT SIDE, attended with Change of Temper; and of Disease in the left Corpus Striatum, attended with Loss of Knowledge of the Signification of Words. Reported by GEORGE COMBE.

A GENTLEMAN, who is designated Mr N. in a report of his case published in the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Jour. nal, No. 129, by James Craig, Esq. surgeon, Ludgate Lodge, Ratho, was the son of a farmer in one of the midland counties of Scotland. He rose to eminence as a diplomatist. He was educated at the same parish-school with my father, who told me the incidents of his youth. The events of his mature age are recorded in the history of his country; and when, in his later years, he retired to a small estate which he had purchased in the county of I continued to hear from friends who lived on terms of intimacy with him, every im portant occurrence that befel him, and also his habits and occupations. In August 1832, he was suddenly seized with an affection of the head, accompanied by loss of the power of using words, and a change of temper from uncommon

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