Select discourses on the functions of the nervous system : in opposition to phrenology, materialism, and atheism : to which is prefixed a lecture on the diversities of the human character arising from physiological peculiarities / by John Augustine Smith.

  • Smith, John Augustine, 1782-1865.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Select discourses on the functions of the nervous system : in opposition to phrenology, materialism, and atheism : to which is prefixed a lecture on the diversities of the human character arising from physiological peculiarities / by John Augustine Smith. 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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    Such are the characteristics of children, when healthy, and such the causes. When puny and delicate, they frequently exhibit marks of premature intelligence, par- ticularly as regards observation and reflection, and people remark, What a pity it is so sensible a child should be so sickly. But we now see that it is to this very feebleness of body that such children are indebted for their superiority. For the circulation in the brain being thereby rendered feeble, that viscus, as in the adult, is more upon a par with the rest of the system. Should the health of such children be restored, with their re- turning vigor the brain resumes its wonted superiority, and quickly destroys their pretensions to unusual intel- lectual powers. But should this not be the case, and should the precocity be very remarkable, such children are like unsound fruits, which exhibit the earliest signs of ripeness, but never arrive at maturity—an early death too often blasting the ill-founded hopes which such cases have inspired. As soon as the brain acquires its full and proper size, which it does very early in life, the blood is determiued to other organs. Thus as we advance in years, the cerebral influence gradually diminishes, until in some instances, no more of it remains than is barely sufficient to carry on the operations of the animal economy. Occasionally, however, the power of this viscus con- tinues through life too great, (although it is always more or less modified by that of some other part.) Persons thus circumstanced, are distinguished by many of the characteristics of children. They are restless, captious, irascible and violent. Ready to engage in any pursuit,