be adopted to advance it, must contribute to the ultimate advantage of the nation. Impressed with the importance of facilitating in every possible way the attainment of the objects which these associations have in view, and believing that a central society to serve as a medium of communication between them and lecturers would be eminently useful for this purpose, a number of gentlemen of Edinburgh, many of them connected with the business of public instruction, have formed themselves into a society for the purpose of aiding provincial associations in procuring qualified lecturers; and they now announce their object and rules of action to the public. Approving of the principle which has hitherto been acted on by the Edinburgh Philosophical Association-that the demand for instruction, as well as the arrangements for obtaining it, should emanate from the people themselves-they have resolved that "they shall not send forth teachers or lecturers, nor publish books or tracts, nor provide apparatus, on their own account, or at their own expense; but that their object shall be limited to aiding local associations by advice and influence in procuring lecturers, books, and apparatus," and in selecting useful and interesting subjects for the lectures. The plan of their proceedings is the following: They invite provincial associations which may be desirous of obtaining their assistance, to communicate to them through their secretary the following information. 1. The name of the Association, with the names and addresses of the office-bearers. 2. The number of members of whom the Association consists. 3. The accommodation, in the form of lecture-rooms and apparatus, which they possess, or can command. 4. The subjects, and the particular days and hours, for which they wish to procure lecturers. 5. The remuneration which they can afford to pay to lecturers for their services, with any other particulars which may affect the terms of an arrangement; especially any circumstances likely to affect in a peculiar manner a lecturer's expenses in travelling to and residing in the locality of the Association. They likewise invite persons willing to become lecturers to inform them regarding the subjects they may be prepared to undertake, and such other particulars as may facilitate arrangements with the parties interested. The society will meet on the first Monday of every month, or oftener, if required, and will use means to make the demands communicated to them known to the class of persons who may feel an interest in supplying them. As some of the members have had experience in public teaching, the society will be glad to communicate the results of the experience of those members both to associations and to candidates for employment as lecturers. They will also use every means in their power to ascertain the qualifications of lecturers before recommending them. In short, the society will endeavour to form a medium of communication between the parties who want instruction, and those who may be willing to impart it. The labours of this association shall be entirely gratuitous. They will confine their exertions strictly to the sphere of useful and entertaining science, and to the duty of bringing provincial associations into communication with properly qualified teachers, for the advantage and accommodation of both parties. They will at all times be ready, moreover, to offer such advice in regard to the subjects and modes of instruction as their own experience shall enable them to suggest. The office-bearers elected at the first meeting, held on 21st December 1835, are Patrick Neill, Esq. LL. D., F.R.S.E., &c. The Rev. J. P. Nichol, Lecturer on Na- Dr Andrew Combe, F.R.C.P. President. Vice Presidents. Council. Acting Committee of Consultation and Examination. Secretary and Treasurer. Robert Cox, For obvious reasons, all communications to the secretary must be post-paid, otherwise they will not be received; and they ought to be addressed thus: "Robert Cox, Secretary to the Society for aiding in the General Diffusion of Science, 23 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh." Communications ought to be in the secretary's hands about a week before the meeting at which they are to be considered, in order that he may announce to the members what business will on each occasion be submitted to them. ARTICLE VI. ANATOMICAL REPORT ON THE SKULL OF DR SPURZHEIM; read before the Boston Phrenological Society. By NATHANIEL B. SHURTLEFF, M. D." HAVING been appointed a committee on the skull of our lamented friend Spurzheim-the anatomist who, by dissecting From the Annals of Phrenology, vol. ii. p. 72. The cut on p. 41. is added by ourselves.-ED. P. J. the brain, first displayed to the eye its fibrous and ganglionary structure, and demonstrated the direction and connection of its filaments the discoverer of many of the relations existing between the spiritual faculties of the mind and their material cerebral instruments-the philosopher who, by the greatness of his own mind, raised craniology and physiognomy to the ethical science, Phrenology,-I offer with diffidence the following report, fearing that it is unworthy of its subject, and less minute and extended than may have been wished. Deeming the mental characteristics of this distinguished man well known, I shall not advert to them, but shall confine myself as strictly as possible to an anatomical description of such parts of the cranium as seem to have a phrenological bearing, or, in other words, which immediately enclose the encephalon. To others, more experienced in cranioscopical taxis, is left the opportunity of determining the exact form and size of the development of the different individual portions of the cerebral mass. Adhering to the phrenological motto res non verba quaeso,' I shall merely state facts, and leave others to draw their own conclusions. It is well known that the skull of Dr Spurzheim received the funeral honours which were bestowed upon his other remains, and that it was the intention of his Boston friends to deposit it in the grave with his body.* This last intention was never carried into effect, it having been subsequently understood that such interment would violate an often expressed wish of Dr Spurzheim. On this subject, his friend, George Combe, Esq. of Edinburgh, the distinguished writer on Phrenology, says, in a letter to Mr Capen, "The whole conduct of your countrymen towards him (Dr Spurzheim) was excellent. In one particular only would a knowledge of Dr Spurzheim's own wish have made an alteration. I have often heard him say, • When I die, I hope they will not bury my skull: it will prove what my dispositions were, and afford the best answer to my calumniators." Dr Gall expressed a similar wish in regard to his own, when he returned to Cuvier a skull which that great naturalist had sent, with the message that it appeared to him to confirm his (Gall's) doctrine of the physiology of the brain' • Take back that skull,' said the then dying philosopher to Cuvier's messenger, and tell Cuvier that there is now only ONE wanting to complete my collection; it is MY OWN; it will soon be there, as a powerful testimony of the truth of my doctrine.' * Dr S. lies buried on the most conspicuous mound in the cemetery at Mount Auburn, under a beautiful monument, exquisitely carved from a block of Italian marble, by European artists, in imitation of the tomb of the Scipios. The word 'SPURZHEIM' cut upon the stone in Roman capitals though a simple inscription, speaks more eloquently than could any laboured epitaph. This beautiful monument is enclosed by an elliptical iron fence, and was erected by the munificence of Wm. Sturgis, Esq. of this city. Dr Spurzheim's skull was therefore prepared and bleached by Dr Lewis and myself, and is now preserved, with the brain, in a fire-proof safe in the society's hall, equally free to be seen by seen. That there may be no misunderstanding with regard to the dimensions of the skull, I have taken the measurements in inches, and, as far as practicable, from anatomical points. Greatest circumference (measured horizontally), length from occipital protuberance to the frontal sinuses, Distance from occipital protuberance to the naso-frontal articulation measured over the heard, naso-frontal articulation to superior angle of the occipi- Inches. 221 7호 131% 718 naso-frontal articulation to the anterior extremity of 47% occipital protuberance to superior angle of the occipi tal bone, . occipital protuberance to anterior extremity of the sagittal suture, Greatest breadth of skull, measured between the temporal bones, I inch above the orifices of the ears, Distance from mastoid process to mastoid process, Dr S. died on the 10th of Nov. 1832. His brain was weighed on the 12th. Being present, I took an account of the weight, which, after deduct. ing for that of the napkins, &c. which were used, was exactly 3 pounds 7 ounces and 1 dram, or 55 ounces avoirdupois. The brain was previously deprived of its liquors, and divested of the dura-mater. Distance from ear to ear around the back of the skull at the occipital ... parietal protuberance to parietal protuberance, Camper's facial angle, 61 degrees. The other measurements agree with the following, published in No. XXXIX. of the Edinburgh Phrenological Journal, taken from the cast which the Society sent to Edinburgh. "Greatest circumference of head (measured horizontally over Individuality, Constructiveness, Destructiveness, and Philoprogenitiveness), From occipital spine to Individuality, over the top of the head Ear to Philoprogenitiveness, 221 13 13 71% 61 Individuality, *** Benevolence, Firmness,. The discrepancies between these two lists of measurements are of very little importance. All the measurements in that from the skull were taken several times, and found to agree with others that I took from a cast in my collection, which I made at the same time, and in the same mould, with those sent to Europe. The errors are therefore in the list of our Edinburgh friends, and may have arisen from the accidental moving of their callipers. The texture of the skull is fine, and the substance compact, with little or no diploe. Externally, the sutures are very distinet; but internally they are so obliterated as to be scarcely visible. I have never seen the interior of a cranium where the digital impressions, adapted to the exterior of the convolutions of the brain, are so well marked; on this account a mould, particularly of the anterior region, would give as good an idea of the form and size of the convolutions as the best possible cast of the brain. Such a mould would also give a correct idea of the form of the encephalon. I have in my collection a cast of the brain, which I took soon after Dr Spurzheim's decease, • Notwithstanding the prominence of the forehead, this measurement is taken correctly. Two causes combine to make this angle small in the head of Dr Spurzheim; 1st, the great length of the tace; and, 2d, the extra high si tuation of the ear. This is another fact which goes against the intellectual angle of Camper. |