216 FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



phrenologists as having their seat. On the other hand, the anterior lobes, in 

 which the intellectual faculties are considered as residing, bear, in many ani- 

 mals,' a much larger proportion to the whole bulk of the brain than they do 

 in Man. Again, Comparative Anatomy and Experiment alike sanction the 

 conclusion, that the purely Instinctive propensities have not their seat in the 

 Cerebrum. These examples, and many similar ones that might easily be 

 added, collectively show the uncertainty, to say the least, of the inferences 

 which are by many regarded as firmly established. 



293. The evidence of Pathology, again, tends to show that particular dis- 

 orders of function may result from lesions of any part of the Cerebral hemi- 

 spheres. This has been especially noticed, for example, in regard to the loss 

 of the Memory of Words, which Phrenologists locate in the organ of Lan- 

 guage ; there, of course, the lesion might be expected, on their system, to 

 present itself; but this is by no means constantly, or even generally, the case. 

 Phrenologists lay great stress on the effects of local injury, in causing loss 

 of memory of a particular subject; but this principle, if carried to its full 

 extent, would require us to regard each organ as split up into a large number 

 of subdivisions the organ of language, for example, having one store-house 

 for Latin, another for Greek, &c. ; either of which may be destroyed, without 

 the other being affected. A very important source of evidence is that afforded 

 by the correspondence between the several kinds of Monomania, and the forms 

 of the brains of the persons exhibiting them; and the number of those who, 

 having studied this question, have given in their adhesion to the phrenological 

 system, is one of the most weighty evidences of its containing much truth. 

 The doubts which have been expressed on the subject would have much less 

 weight, if the coincidence of Phrenological determinations of character with 

 truth, were more constant. The fairest tests of these are to be found, as Dr. 

 Holland has justly remarked, " not in vague and ill-defined moral propensities, 

 but in a few simple and well-marked faculties, such as those of numerical 

 calculation, language or music, which have no others in actual opposition to 

 them, and the degree of perfection in which can be clearly defined." We 

 hear much from Phrenologists, as to their successful application of these tests ; 

 but we do not hear of the instances of failure. The Author's own experience 

 of their determinations, however, has certainly led him to the belief that failure 

 is nearly as frequent as success. Without wishing to set himself up as an 

 opponent to Phrenology, he perfectly agrees with Dr. Holland, in thinking 

 that an impartial view of it requires, " not that the doctrine should be put 

 aside altogether, but that great abatement should be made of its pretensions as 

 a system." In particular, he thinks that those who pursue it are bound to 

 make themselves first acquainted with what dan be established as the general 

 functions of the Brain, before descending to particulars. 



XXI. General Recapitulation and Pathological Applications. 



294. A general summary of the views here propounded, in regard to the 

 Functions of the'Cerebro-Spinal division of the Nervous System, may proba- 

 bly be useful in assisting the Student to gain clear ideas regarding them. 

 The fibres of the Nervous trunks may be divided, according to the direction 

 o their influence, into two classes the afferent or centripetal and the effe- 

 rint or centrifugal. The afferent may be said td commence at the periphery, 

 Specially on the skin, mucous surfaces, &c., and to terminate in the gray 

 matter of the nervous centres ; whilst the efferent originate in that gray matter, 

 and terminate in the muscles.* Every fibre runs a distinct course from its 



* The terms originate and terminate cannot be used with strict correctness ; since, as 



