The twelve qualities of mind, or, Outlines of a new system of physiognomy, no. II / by J.W. Redfield.

  • Redfield, James W.
Date:
1850
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The twelve qualities of mind, or, Outlines of a new system of physiognomy, no. II / by J.W. Redfield. 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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    LETTER II. The first quality of the mind, and the foundation, so to speak, of the superstructure, is Endurance. This is indicated by the brain. The larger the brain, the more there is of en- durance, or of the power of receiving and sustaining impres- sions, and of continuance in action. The brain is called the sensorium, because it is supposed to receive impressions through the medium of the external senses, or nerves of seeing, hearing, smelling, &c. It is in reality the mind which receives impres- sions so as to feel them, and this property or quality of the mind is indicated by the brain, which receives impressions in a literal sense, as does the sheet in a camera-obscura. By the quality of Endurance is meant this capability of receiving, bearing, supporting, or sustaining impressions of external objects, or of abstract truths relating to the mind and to all things. Every faculty of the mind, whether perceptive, rational, moral, religious, social, or domestic, has its sign in the brain. The credit of discovering exact signs of character in the developments and configurations of the skull, and of thus laying the foundation of a true science of Physiognomy, is due to Dr. Gall. His discoveries commenced where they ought to have done: that is, at the quality of the mind, and part of the body, on which the whole superstructure of the science is based. He was well aware that his observations were physiognomical, and claimed that they were so.* Had not Spurzheim given another name to the discoveries of his master, the disciples of * His language on this point is very decided: I shall show here that I am nothing less than a physiognomist. I rather think that the wise men have bap- tized the child before it was born: they call me craniologist, and the science which I discovered, craniology ; — but, in the first place, all learned words displease me; next, this is not one applicable to my profession, nor one which really designates it.—Gall's Works, vol. i., Biography.