680 FUNCTIONS OF THE C EREBRO -SPINAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



tion of a large and varied series of facts have led him to the conclusion that 

 the Cerebellum with its connection downwards along the medulla oblongata 

 and spinal cord, and upwards into the hemispheres, is the great trophic 

 centre. This centre may be excited to functional activity, not only by affer- 

 ent impressions from the body, whether consciousness be coincident or not, 

 but also by afferent impressions from the vast periphery of the cerebral 

 hemispheres, and in this case also whether consciousness be coincident or 

 not ; in short, that the cerebral hemispheres are not functionally restricted 

 to intellectual processes, as is generally held, nor the cerebellum to muscu- 

 lar co-ordination, but that both conjointly influence the whole of the organic 

 processes. 



552. We have now to examine, however, another doctrine regarding the 

 functions of the Cerebellum, which was first propounded by Gall, and which 

 is supported by the Phrenological school of physiologists. This doctrine, that 

 the Cerebellum is the organ of the sexual instinct, is not incompatible with 

 the other; and by some it has been held in combination with it. The greater 

 number of Phrenologists, however, regard this instinct as the exclmive func- 

 tion of the Cerebellum; and assert that they can judge of its intensity by 

 the degree of development of the organ. We shall now examine the evidence 

 in support of this position, afforded by the three methods of inquiry which 

 have been already indicated. In the first place it may be remarked, that 

 the sexual propensity is very closely connected with various Emotional states 

 of mind, to which "organs" are assigned by Phrenologists, and of which 

 the Cerebellum is universally admitted to be the seat; such for instance as 

 " love of offspring," "adhesiveness," and (in the lower animals more partic- 

 ularly) " combativeness;" whilst in Man it has a continual operation upon 

 the reasoning faculties and the Will. Yet the anatomical connections of 

 the Cerebellum are peculiarly unfavorable to any such influence ; these 

 being, as we have seen, rather with the lower than with the higher portion 

 of the Cerebro-spiual axis. Again, the results of fair observation as to the 

 comparative size of the Cerebellum in different animals, can scarcely be 

 regarded as otherwise than very unfavorable to the doctrine in question. : - 

 It is asserted, however, that the results of observation in Man lead to a 

 positive conclusion, that the size of the Cerebellum is 'a measure of the in- 

 tensity of the sexual instinct in the individual. This assertion has been met 

 by the counter-statement of others, that no such relation exists. It is un- 

 fortunate that here, as in many other instances, each party has registered 

 the observations favorable to its own views, rather than those of an opposite 

 character; so that until some additional evidence of a less partial nature 

 shall have been collected, we must consider the question as #ubjn<!i<-t'. It 

 may be safely affirmed, however, that no evidence upon the affirmative side 

 of this proposition has yet been adduced, which can be in the least degree. 

 satisfactory to the mind of any Anatomist who is competent to judge of its 

 value. For nearly all the observations which have been paraded by Phren- 

 ologists in support of Gall's doctrine, have been based, not upon the actual 

 determination of the size or weight of the Cerebellum in different individuals, 

 but upon an estimate of its proportional development from the external con- 

 formation of the skull. Now any one who has even cursorily examined 

 those principal types of cranial conformation which are characteristic of 

 some of the chief subdivisions of the Human species, must perceive that 

 there is a no less characteristic difference between these different types in the 

 occipital, than there is in the frontal region. For whilst the occipital pro- 

 jection is much greater in the "prognathous" skull than it is iu the "ellipti- 



1 See Brit, and For. Medical lleview, vol. xxii, pp. 535-541. 



