Lectures on man : being a series of discourses on phrenology and physiology / delivered by L.N. Fowler.
- Lorenzo N. Fowler
- Date:
- 1880
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Lectures on man : being a series of discourses on phrenology and physiology / delivered by L.N. Fowler. 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.
19/364 page 13
![We train children imperfectly, in our ignorance, or from some other cause, and thus violate the law that conduces to perfection of organ- ization. Children become depraved, not because they are made so by their Creator, but because a perverted education imperfectly developea the mind, renders some faculties morbid, and gives to others an undue preponderance. The intemperate man shows his depravity by his in- temperance. The thief is depraved as such, because he has made a thief of himself, and not because his Creator made a thief of him. So some of our children are exceedingly depraved in their conduct, be- cause they have had bad examples set before them. The development and direction of the mind depend much on education and the circum- stances which surround the person. We see, then, the necessity of un- derstanding the action of the human mind so as to have systems of education that shall give right direction to its powers, and develope them so as to fit ourselves and children to take a proper part in society. Let me here remark, that the right action and proper direction of the mind only qualifies the individual for this life. Thus far Phrenology goes, instructing us to exercise our minds according to their legitimate action. Our highest hopes and aspirations for a better life are stimulated by Divine influences. Perfection of mind and character depends on a full development, harmonious action, and right direction of all the faculties together, the moral organs taking the lead, and the mind, as a whole, being under Divine guidance ; but the subject of depravity, as related to the moral nature of man, will be considered more fully in my Lecture on the Moral Faculties. •What should be taken into Account in the Beading of Character. There are certain things to be taken into account in reading character phrenologically. First, the whole organism. Secondly, its quality. Is it fine 1 or coarse 1 or medium ? Thirdly, we ascertain the power of the constitution. How much health and constitution has the individual] Can he endure one day without sleep, or six days without food or sleep 1 Can he work three days without food \ or only one day without food 1 Next, we take into account the circulation. Is it quick, but not strong] Is it quick and strong ] Is it slow and weak, or is it slow and strong 1 Whatever may be the condition of the circulation, it indicates something with reference to the action of the mind. Is the blood venous or arterial ? Does the warm and red blood predominate, or is it the colder venous blood that has the ascendancy 1 And then we ascer- tain the power of the lungs. Has the person a small nose and small lungs, or are they large, and does he inhale an abundance of pure air 1 If so there is a probability of good digestion, and that the body is well sustained by the food eaten. But, if the lungs are large in volum^ and the person stays within doors all day at a sedentary employment^ the system will not be as much benefited hv what is eaten as when](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21024315_0019.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
