CRITICAL NOTICES OP NEW PUBLICATIONS. 327 



velopment of the different parts of the frame, elementary constitu- 

 ents as well as compound organs, as the most probable cause of tem- 

 perament or constitution. 



The temporary state of the brain and body materially modifies 

 the manifestations of the mental faculties, particularly when the 

 size of their organs is nearly balanced. It is stated further by Mr. 

 W., that the exercise of the faculties increases the functional acti- 

 vity of their organs : it improves their power and energy, but it 

 does not otherwise change them. On the other hand, when the 

 faculties are too little exercised, their organs become weaker : but 

 when they are too much exercised, their organs become irritable 

 and unhealthy, and the constitution of the whole body is then in- 

 jured by the unhealthy state of the brain. Precocious children 

 usually die in childhood, or lose their talents through being encou- 

 raged to overstrain their brains ; and, through being forced to do so, 

 dull children are often seriously injured. Again j the organs are 

 stimulated into activity by external circumstances ; but often they 

 become involuntarily active from an internal cause — as an increased 

 flow of blood to the part. This, as Mr. W. observes, is an import- 

 ant fact, which ought to be well known and ever remembered by 

 moralists, divines, parents, teachers, and physicians. He thinks it 

 probable that exercise or activity of the cerebral organs increases 

 their size ; but whether it does this to the extent of altering the 

 original configuration of the skull, after puberty, seems yet very 

 doubtful. He is quite certain, however, that particular forms and 

 qualities of brain are hereditary ; and, although the laws of here- 

 ditary descent are unascertained, yet there is a presumption that 

 the organs predominantly active in the parents, will be the most 

 developed in their children. And this much we give to afford a 

 glimpse of the " philosophy of Phrenology." 



Mr. Watson seems to have taken extraordinary pains to make his 

 Statistics of Phrenology alike comprehensive and accurate. When 

 under the influence of particular inspirations, he is sometimes amus- 

 ingly oracular j but, throughout the work, his talents and principles 

 appear to great advantage ; while his literary character is beauti- 

 fully distinguished by a vigorous straight-forwardness of purpose, 

 and a devoted veneration of philanthropy and truth. 



Anecdotes and Annals of the Deaf and Dumb. By Charles Edward 

 Herbert Orpen, M.D., Member of various British and Foreign 

 Societies, and Secretary of the Institution for the Deaf and 

 Dumb, at Claremont, near Dublin. Second edition. London : 

 Tims. 1836. Post 8vo., pp. 626. 



If establishing schools and colleges for the instruction of ordinary 

 children is of such importance, and the necessity of arriving at the 

 best and surest means of enlightening them and rendering them fit 

 to mingle in polite society, as is now universally acknowledged, so 



