216 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE. 



effect of association operating through the intervention 

 of education, or of the accidental circumstances in 

 which the individual has been placed. 



" And with respect to what may be regarded as the 

 practical application of the art, or science of craniosco- 

 py ; it may be objected, that the convolutions of the 

 cerebrum are not what one should expect to be the seat 

 of the ultimate operations of the organ. They are not 

 the part in which we behold that elaborate and compli- 

 cated structure, the existence of which has been sup- 

 posed to form so powerful an argument in favor of the 

 doctrine, while this view of the subject still leaves unex- 

 plained the uses of the more minutely organized parts, 

 that are situated in the interior of the brain." 



Dr. Bostock further remarks, that the question wheth- 

 er this science has any foundation or not, must be deci- 

 ded by an appeal to facts. " These facts are of two 

 kinds, almost exactly coinciding in their object. We 

 must obtain skulls that are marked by some peculiarity 

 of form and shape, and must then endeavor to learn 

 what was the natural character of the subject ; or we 

 must take the cases of those who have shown some de- 

 cided peculiarity of disposition and character, and exam- 

 ine the figure of their skulls. A sufficient number of 

 these observations, carefully made and impartially re- 

 corded, cannot fail to decide the question, whether there 

 be any ground for the doctrine of the appropriation of 

 the different parts of the brain to distinct faculties; and 

 more particularly, whether we have it in our power to 

 ascertain their seat by an external examination of the 

 cranium. On this point, I must give it as the conviction 

 of my mind, that the facts hitherto adduced, are altogeth- 

 er inadequate to the end proposed ; that they are fre- 

 quently of doubtful authority, and of incorrect applica- 

 tion ; and that nothing but the love of novelty, and the 

 eagerness with which the mind embraces whatsoever 

 promises to open a new avenue to the acquisition of 

 knowledge, could have led men of talents and informa- 

 tion to place any confidence in them."* 



* An Elementary System of Physiology, by John Bostock, M. D., 

 F. R. S.,L. S. G. S. H. S. M. R. L, London, Vol. III., p. 2645-6. 



