Elements of phrenology / [George Combe].

  • George Combe
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elements of phrenology / [George Combe]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    not larger than in man. In birds the cerebellum occu- pies only the mesial line of the occipital bone ; in cer- tain animals, on the contrary, the cerebellum is covered by the posterior lobes of the brain, while in others 1t stands free behind the lobes. It is impossible, there- fore, to establish a general rule regarding the form of the skull in all animals; nevertheless, if we compare only the skulls of animals of the same species, and belonging to individuals whose instincts and propensities we have studied during their lives, we shall easily re- cognise that the differences in disposition and capacity which exist between one individual and another, are owing to differences in the development of their brains,. and not to accidental causes. In man, in his normal and healthy condition, the inner and outer surfaces of the skull present a faithful impres- sion of the outer surface of the brain; but the skull is passive both in its formation and in its configuration. It is influenced by the growth, the decrease, and the modi- fications which take place in the brain. It has no other functions than those which properly belong to the osseous system in general. | | os OF THE BRAIN. 4 The reader is referred to the general sstrrations on the brain, commencing on page 25. Before the time of Dr Gall, anatomists gave exact descriptions of the physi- cal qualities of the brain, and minute details regarding its form, the colour of its different parts, and their con- sistency. They made their observations by cutting the brain in slices, generally from the top to the bottom. The appearances which presented themselves in the different cuts, were carefully described ; and, this accom- plished, they believed themselves to have become ac- quainted with the structure of the brain, They were silent on the subject of its functions. By this method
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