VIEWS OF PHEENOLOGISTS. 359 



attractive weapon, which has usually been wielded against it; and too 

 often by those who have been ignorant both of its principles and 

 details. It is not above twenty years since one of the most illustrious 

 poets of Great Britain included in his satire the stability of the cow-pox, 

 galvanism, and gas, along with that of the metallic tractors of Perkins 



"The cow-pox, tractors, galvanism, and gas, 



In turns appear to make the vulgar stare 

 v Till the swoll'n bubble bursts, and all is air." 



English Bards and Scotch Reviewers" 



Yet, how secure in its operation, how unrivalled in its results, has vac- 

 cination every where exhibited itself ! 



Indiscriminate divination from measurement of heads has been a sad 

 detriment to phrenology as a branch of physiological science ; and has 

 been grievously deplored by enlightened phrenologists. " Highly as 

 we estimate the discovery of Gall," says one of the ablest of these 1 

 " immense as we regard the advantages which may be ultimately de- 

 rived from phrenology, we confess that we wish to see it less regarded, 

 studied, and pursued as a separate science, and more as a branch of 

 general physiology;" and he adds: " In reviewing the circumstances 

 which have tended to lower phrenology in the estimation of scientific 

 men, and, consequently, to retard both its progress as a science, and 

 the general recognition of its leading truths, we should but very im- 

 perfectly perform our task, if we did not refer, in the strongest possible 

 terms of reproof and condemnation, to the too prevalent proceeding of 

 examining living heads in minute detail and indiscriminately, and sup- 

 plying the owners with an account of the 'developement,' often on the 

 receipt of a fee, varying in amount, as there is furnished or omitted a 

 general deduction as to the character and probable conduct of the indi- 

 vidual, with or without the 'philosophy,' according to the phraseology 

 of practitioners of this art. We unhesitatingly maintain, that the 

 science is not sufficiently advanced to supply evidence of its truth from 

 every head, or from any one head, and consequently, that such practice, 

 as a general one, is so much pure charlatanism. Where any strongly 

 marked peculiarity of individual character exists, its outward sign, in 

 appropriate subjects, will certainly be detected ; but, from the very 

 nature of the thing, these cases must constitute not the rule, but the 

 exception. The practice we condemn, however, makes no distinction 

 of instances. Injudicious zeal, the common ally of ignorance, a wish 

 for effect, not unfrequently more sordid motives, stimulate the self-styled 

 phrenologist in this empirical career ; and, as a matter of course, the 

 errors and mistakes perpetually made are constantly appealed to as 

 indicative of the sandy foundations of the entire phrenological edifice. 

 We write advisedly in this our unqualified reprobation of the popular 

 custom of i taking developements.' We believe it to be an extension 

 of the practical application of phrenology much beyond its legitimate 

 bounds ; and we appeal to any one having acquaintance with its results, 

 whether any thing like uniformity the true test of accuracy is ob- 

 tained in the majority of cases, even when the most experienced and 



1 British and Foreign Medical Review, July, 1842. 



