FUNCTIONS OF THE CEREBELLUM. 355 



such relation exists. It is unfortunate that here, as in many other instances, 

 each party has registered the observations favourable to their own views, 

 rather than those of an opposite character ; so that until some additional 

 evidence of a less partial nature has been collected, we must consider the 

 question as sub judice. The Author is by no means disposed to deny 

 that such a correspondence may exist; but on contrasting the degree of sup- 

 port which this part of phrenology really derives from pathological evidence, 

 with that which the upholders of this view represent it to receive, he cannot 

 but look with much distrust at all their observations on the subject. 



467. It is stated in Phrenological works, as an ordinary result of disease 

 of the Cerebellum, that there is an affection of the genital organs, manifest- 

 ing itself in priapism, turgescence of the testes, and sometimes in seminal 

 emissions. Now it is quite true that, in cases of apoplexy, in which these 

 symptoms manifest themselves, there is very commonly found to be effusion 

 upon the Cerebellum or in its substance ; but it is to be remembered, that in 

 all such lesions the Medulla Oblongata is involved, and these symptoms, 

 equally with paralysis, may be due to affection of that organ.* Further, the 

 converse does not by any means hold good ; for the proportion of cases of 

 disease of the Cerebellum, in which there is any manifest affection of the 

 sexual organs, is really very small, being, according to the calculations of 

 Burdach, not above one in seventeen. The same physiologist states that s^ich 

 affections do present themselves, although very rarely, when the Cerebrum is 

 the seat of the lesion. A large number of facts adduced by Phrenologists in 

 support of their views such as the erections and emissions which often take 

 place during hanging may be explained as well, or even better, on the hypo- 

 thesis that the Cerebro-spinal axis (that is, the Spinal cord with the Medulla 

 Oblongata) is the seat of this instinct. And this hypothesis is much more con- 

 formable to the results of experiment and disease, than that which locates it in 

 the Cerebellum. For it has been found that mechanical irritation of the Spinal 

 Cord, and disease in its substance, much more frequently produce excitement 

 of the genital organs, than do lesions of the Cerebellum. This view is en- 

 tertained by Miiller, and by most physiologists who have taken a compre- 

 hensive and unbiassed survey of the phenomena in question. 



468. Among the arguments adduced by Gall and his followers in proof of 

 the connection between the Cerebellum and the sexual instinct, is one which 

 would deserve great attention, if the facts stated could be relied on. It has 

 been asserted, over and over again, that the Cerebellum, in animals which have 

 been castrated when young, is much smaller than in those which have retained 

 their virility, being, in fact, atrophied from want of power to act. Now, it 

 is unfortunate that vague assertion, founded on estimates formed by the eye 

 from the cranium alone, is all on which this position rests ; and it will be pre- 

 sently shown, how very liable to error such an estimate must be. The fol- 

 lowing is the result of a series of observations on this subject, suggested by 

 M. Leuret,t and carried into effect by M. Lassaigne : The weight of the 

 Cerebellum, both absolutely and as compared with that of the Cerebrum, was 

 adopted as the standard of comparison. This was ascertained in ten Stal- 

 lions, of the ages of from nine to seventeen years ; in twelve Mares, aged 



* A case has been recently communicated to the Author, in which the sexual desire, 

 which had been always strong through life, but which had been controlled within the limits 

 of decency, manifested itself, during a period of some months preceding death, in a most 

 extraordinary degree: on post-mortem examination a tumour was found on the Pons Varolii. 

 This fact harmonizes with the view given in the text ( 470), that the sexual instinct, if con- 

 nected with the Cerebellum at all, has its seat in the central lobe : but it also corresponds 

 equally well with the idea, that the Medulla Oblongata is its centre. 



f Anat. Comp. du Systeme Nerveaux, torn, i., p. 427. 



