Spurzheim's Lectures on phrenology / edited (with notes and an introduction) by Alfred T. Story.

  • Johann Spurzheim
Date:
[between 1890 and 1910?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Spurzheim's Lectures on phrenology / edited (with notes and an introduction) by Alfred T. Story. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    65/188 (page 53)
    tion, you will find that they are differently organized from others in this spot here. Look at this head : you observe that it is large just behind the external angle of the eye. Anterior to Secretiveness is Acquisitiveness ; still more anterior than Acquisitiveness is an organization which gives the power called Constructiveness—it is the power I now speak of. This is the cast of the head of a boy only eight years old. He had the talent of imitating in paper the figures of whatever he saw ; you observe how broad it is here (pointing to the part). Here is the cast of a person who was punished for his talents, and he ran away to satisfy his talents, and you see the organi- zation is very full in this part. Do you think that such a person (showing a cast very flat in this place) would show a great talent for construction ? Shall we find the powers of constructing in the arts different in different nations? You will find this part more developed in the French than in the English. If you observe persons in the streets of Paris, you will observe the organization large, generally speaking. Here are two French skulls: you see that this part is full, not that I would draw any inference from them that the heads of French- men are so generally ; I give you the remark in a general way. If you observe in common life persons showing great dexterity in the use of instruments, as mechanics in the use of their tools, you will find this cerebral part well developed. Many mechanics can devise very ingenious things, but they have not the power of carrying their inventions into effect; they must have others to manufacture for them, because they have not the power I speak of. As far as manual dexterity is con- cerned, you will certainly find a greater number of persons who possess it in the French than in any other European