366 INNERVATION. [c HAP. XI. 



fibres connected with it, are altogether of the mental kind. The 

 physical changes in these parts give rise to a corresponding mani- 

 festation of ideas; nor is it likely that any thought, however 

 simple, is unaccompanied by change in this centre. The shock of 

 concussion so far checks the organic changes of the vesicular sur- 

 face, and perhaps, also, of the fibrous matter, as to interrupt for 

 a time those conjoint actions of the mind and the brain which 

 are necessary for perfect consciousness. The condensation of the 

 substance of the hemispheres whicli is produced by an apoplectic 

 clot, or by the effusion of some other foreign matter, prevents a simi- 

 lar consent of action, and thus gives rise to the phenomena of coma, 

 in which all mental nervous actions are destroyed or suspended. 

 Those parts of the cerebro-spinal centre on which the physical actions 

 depend, being more completely protected from compression, do not 

 suffer in their functions, and, consequently, actions of this kind 

 remain unimpaired. 



This view of the function of the convolutions of the brain has 

 been held by nearly all the great anatomists who have directed 

 their investigations to this wonderful organ. Our countryman, 

 Willis, distinctly advanced this opinion in the seventeenth century, 

 and conjectured that the various gyrations were intended for retain- 

 ing the animal spirits "for the various acts of imagination and 

 memory " within certain limits. The distinguished Gall, however, 

 proposed to assign certain convolutions as the seat of certain facul- 

 ties of the mind moral feelings, or instinctive propensities and 

 upon this basis raised the celebrated theory of Phrenology, which 

 has been pursued since his time with all the zeal and interest 

 naturally attaching to a science, which professes from external signs 

 to detect the natural tendencies of the spirit within. 



We do not propose to discuss the validity of this theory, which 

 seems to have been taken up with more apparent zeal for victory, 

 than love of truth. But we shall remark, that, in considering the 

 truth or falsehood of Phrenology, it is absolutely necessary to sepa- 

 rate the metaphysical question as to the existence of certain 

 faculties of the mind from what has been admitted as a physiolo- 

 gical fact before the foundation of the phrenological school, that 

 the vesicular surface of the brain is the prime physical agent in 

 the working of the intellect. A physiologist may hold the vali- 

 dity of this latter doctrine, and yet think as we do, that many of 

 the so-called faculties of the phrenologists are but phases of other 

 and larger powers of the mind; and that the psychologist must 

 determine what are, and what are not, fundamental faculties of 



