326 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 



and talents of individuals, provided we can ascertain the shape of 

 the brain during life. On examination, Mr. W. tells his readers, 

 we find that there is a very close resemblance between the shape of 

 the brain and that of the skull, in human beings ; and, that the 

 skull itself corresponds in shape with the outside of the head : con- 

 sequently, there is little difficulty in estimating the shape or pro- 

 portions of the brain, in living heads. Between the brain and the ex- 

 ternal shape of the head, however, the correspondence is not quite 

 perfect, and therefore there is some difficulty in the way of correctly 

 ascertaining the natural dispositions and talents of individuals by 

 looking at the external shapes of their heads. For this reason, it 

 behoves phrenologists to make themselves acquainted with the parts 

 of the head where such differences usually occur, and also with their 

 usual extent ; and, possessed of this knowledge, they can easily 

 make the requisite allowances when looking upon a living head : se- 

 rious mistakes will seldom occur, excepting with respect to that 

 portion of the brain which is situated behind the lower part of the 

 forehead.* Phrenologists estimate the size of organs by examining 

 the proportions or comparative size of different parts of the skull or 

 head, as representing those of the brain which constitute the organs 

 of the different mental faculties : and, in their language, cerebral 

 development signifies the absolute or comparative size of the brain 

 and its parts. Development differs more or less in every individual 

 head ; and, in extreme cases, the differences amount to inches, so as 

 to be readily discovered ; but, in many instances, it is difficult to 

 say which of any two organs is the larger. By careful observation 

 of extreme cases, the functional manifestations of faculties and their 

 organs have been ascertained, and the cases of more equal develop- 

 ment corroborate and explain the primary conclusions. Thus, Mr. 

 W. affirms, the mental faculties absolutely depend upon material 

 organs for their manifestation ; and, like all other textures of our 

 frames, these organs do not admit of entire change at will : hence, 

 dispositions and talents are innate and will defy all attempts at 

 change, excepting within the limits allowed in the material organs 

 by which they are manifested. 



Mr. Watson goes on to say that, besides the differences resulting 

 from the size of the brain and the proportions of its parts, the natu- 

 ral dispositions and talents of men seem to be greatly influenced by 

 the quality of the brain, and probably by that of the whole frame. 

 There are no fixed rules for judging of the quality of the brain, he 

 thinks ; but it is supposed to be indicated by certain empirical signs. 

 This doctrine seems somewhat singular in coming from a medical 

 philosopher and a phrenologist : the qualities both of brain and of 

 body may be ascertained by the self-same rules which enable us to 

 judge of the qualities of medicines and the qualities of organic func- 

 tions ; namely, by attention to the relations of concomitance and 

 causation. Mr. W. regards the comparative or proportionate de- 



* See Analyst, vol. iii., p. 43. 



