Elements of phrenology.

  • George Combe
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of phrenology. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    each other. After much reflection, he conceived, that if memory for words was indicated by an external sign, the same might be the case with other intellectual powers ; and afterwards, all individuals distinguished by any remarkable faculty became the objects of his atten- tion. By degrees, he believed that he had discovered external signs which indicated a decided disposition for painting, music, and the mechanical arts. He became acquainted also with some individuals remarkable for decision of character, and in their heads he observed a particular part to be very largely developed. This fact first suggested to him the idea of looking to the head for signs of the moral sentiments. But in making these observations, he never conceived for a moment that difference in the development of the skull was the cause of the different talents, as has been erroneously represented. From the first, he referred the influence, whatever it was, to the brain. In following out, by observation, the principle which accident had'thus suggested, Dr Gall for some time en- countered great difficulties. Hitherto he had been alto- gether ignorant of the opinions of physiologists touch- ing the brain, and of metaphysicians respecting the mental faculties. He had simply observed nature. When, however, he began to enlarge his knowledge of books, he saw the most extraordinary conflict of opinions everywhere prevailing, which for the moment made him hesitate about the correctness of his own observations. He found that, by general consent, the moral sentiments had been consigned to the thoracic and abdominal viscera; and that while Pythagoras, Plato, Galen, Haller, and other physiologists, placed the sentient soul or in- tellectual faculties in the brain, Aristotle placed it in the heart, Van Helmont in the stomach, Descartes and his followers in the pineal gland, and Drelincourt and others in the cerebellum. He observed also that a great number of philosophers and physiologists asserted that all men are born with equal mental faculties, and
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