262 



ANALYSIS OP COMBE'S *' SYSTExM of PHRENOLOGY."* 



Mr. Combe bespeaks attention to his System and his Science in 

 an ingenuous prefatory account of the studies, observations, and re- 

 flections which enabled his own mind to admit the truth, and to 

 discern the extensive usefulness, of those principles whereon the new 

 mental philosophy reposes its foundations. This modest and candid 

 example of an honest inquiry to ascertain the truth, is followed by 

 an Introduction, composed of several very important topics, which 

 may be enumerated. These are, instances of opposition to the 

 greatest scientific discoveries ; the brain is the organ of the mind ; 

 there is a plurality of mental faculties, with a corresponding plura- 

 lity of cerebral organs ; the size of organs influences their power, 

 while temperament and disease modify the influence of size ; exer- 

 cise invigorates the cerebral organs and facilitates their action ; 

 sketch of the efforts of metaphysicians, moralists, poets, divines, and 

 physiologists, in determining the philosophy of mind ; history of 

 Dr. Gall's discovery ; and a general view of the functions of the 

 spinal marrow and the nerves. These subjects are discussed seria* 

 tirn with singular perspicuity and success. The section on tempe- 

 raments, or constitutions, is valuable, and well-coloured figures ac- 

 company it as illustrations. 



Every body talks of constitutions ; few can define what is signi- 

 fied by the term. Mr. C, at p. 43, adopts the usual distinction of 

 four primary constitutions — the lymphatic, sanguine, bilious, and 

 nervous ; and these are attended with different degrees of activity 

 in the mind and the brain. They depend upon the ascendancy of 

 particular systems of the body, in man and animals : thus, when 

 the brain and nerves are predominantly active, they produce the 

 nervous constitution ; when the lungs, heart, and blood-vessels pre- 

 dominate in their actions, they give rise to the sanguine constitu- 

 tion ; the bilious constitution results from predominancy of the mus- 

 cular and fibrous systems ; and the lymphatic proceeds from predo- 

 minancy of the glandular and assimilating systems. The different 

 constitutions are indicated by external bodily signs, which are open 

 to observation. The lymphatic is distinguishable by a round form 

 of the body, softness of the muscles, fulness of the cellular tissue 

 under the skin, fair hair, and paleness of the surface of the body ; 



• Fourth edition, two vols., 8vo. ; Edinburgh and London. 1836. pp. 933, 

 with sixty -one figures and plates. 



