Observations an Spurzheim's Anatomy of the Brain. 45 



cease to inquire into that which some great name hud poi»- 

 pously declared to be unattainable, are the reasons vvhv this in- 

 teresting science had not been more successfully studied before 

 the present day. These ideas frequently passed in my mind, 

 but I was unacquainted with any mode of investigating minutely 

 the brain and nerves. Constant presentiment, however, that 

 in them would be found the material principles of our actions 

 and character, prepared me, as it were, for the reception of the 

 facts which came in a loose sort of form from Germany several 

 years ago. 1 had always considered too, that the nature of man 

 was never properly studied, and that a host of prejudicf-s had 

 deterred philosophers from the taslc. There were several 

 other facts which occurred to me, by which 1 anticipated, some- 

 thing like what Dr. Gall afterwards promulgated. These sub- 

 jects became additionally interesting from a curious observation 

 I had made, namely, that the exercise of particular faculties 

 violently and continuedly appeared to produce sensations in parti- 

 cular parts of the head. The violent action into which any or- 

 gan may be called, frequently produces, I am persua.ded, a sen- 

 sation in the part, as Dr. Spurzheim has recently shown in his 

 lecture on the physiognomical expressipn of the organs of the 

 mind, and which is a very interesting fact, as it tends to 

 establish the locality of action of the different parts of the brain. 

 From these circumstances, and from many curious facts 1 no- 

 ticed in diseases, I was then just in a state to be interested by 

 the discoveries of Gall ; and the meeting with his learned col- 

 league in London, and hearing so many of my own crude notions 

 detailed in the scientific manner in which they were treated 

 of by Spurzheim, constituted by far the most interesting period 

 of my Hfe. 



I had scarcely begun the investigation of the anatomical part 

 of their system, when I exclaimed, All I have hitherto known 

 of the anatomy of the brain and nerves is mere child's play ; 

 f.nd the demonstrations of it given in our schools is merely dwel- 

 ling on a blank in the science, and reminding us of the futility 

 of inquiry! 



As I consider this science not merely v/ith reference to the in- 

 terest it must excite as a means of knowing the principles of the 

 diversification of the human character, but also with regard 

 to the important influence which a general knowledge of it, 

 should it be proved true by time, will have on society, I shall 

 proceed to point out the useful results of it under the several 

 heads, as an encouragement to persons to pursue and convince 

 themselves of the truth of statements wiiich the vulgar hastily 

 consider as the chimerical effusions of theoretic;il fancy, as one 

 of the ephemeral manias of our davs. During the imjuirv wc 



shall. 



