THE OLD PHRENOLOGY AND THE NEIV. 241 



remarked, exists at the hinder and lower part of the head (see figs. 23 B, 

 and 24 cb\ and which moreover presents us with a structure differing 

 from that of the cerebrum itself. Phrenologists located in the 

 cerebellum the purely sensual or animal faculties. These faculties 

 are conspicuously exhibited by frogs, which possess but the merest 

 strip of cerebellum. " A man," as we remember hearing a phre- 

 nological lecturer say, "with a head bulging out behind, is going 

 backwards in the world ; " and there was indeed, as we shall see, a 

 modicum of truth (although he knew and understood it not) in the 

 lecturer's remark, since without the cerebellum we could probably 

 proceed neither forwards nor backwards. We now know that the 

 old phrenology of the cerebellum is utterly wrong and unfounded. 

 The new phrenology has shown us that in cases of diseased animal 

 appetites, which in our lunatic asylums are but too frequently re- 

 presented, the cerebellum is not found to be affected a result 

 explained by the fact that the appetites referred to are indeed as 

 much part of our " mental " constitution as is the exercise of benevo- 

 lence or of any other mental faculty. 



Furthermore, the new phrenology supplies positive evidence as 

 to the true functions of the cerebellum. When it is removed from a 

 pigeon, for instance, the animal retains its faculties. It will feed, it 

 can see and hear, but is utterly unable to maintain its equilibrium. 

 If thrown into the air, it flaps its wings in an erratic and aimless 

 fashion. In one word, it cannot " co-ordinate " its movements that 

 is, it cannot so adjust the motions of one set of muscles, as to bring 

 them into purposive harmony with another set or series. The 

 cerebellum thus appears to be the great brain -centre whence are 

 issued the commands and directions which harmonise the muscular 

 actions and movements of our lives. Contrariwise, the true functions 

 of the cerebellum are proved by experiments in which this part of 

 the brain has been left intact whilst the cerebrum or true brain has 

 been removed. A bird or higher animal in such a case will lose all 

 power of volition ; it will be deprived of sight, hearing, and other 

 senses ; it will die of hunger unless fed ; it will exhibit no desire 

 to move ; and will, in short, present a condition utterly opposed to 

 that seen when the cerebellum is removed and the true brain left 

 intact. But with its cerebellum present, and minus its true brain, 

 the bird or other animal can perfectly " co-ordinate " its movements. 

 It will fly straight if thrown into the air, it will walk circumspectly 

 enough if pushed forwards, and will exhibit in fact such perfect 

 muscular control, despite its want of volition and intellect, that the 

 functions of the cerebellum as a controller and co-ordinator of move- 

 ments are no longer matter of hypothesis, but have become staple 

 physiological facts. 



As Professor Ferrier remarks ("Functions of the Brain," second 



R 



