L46 OF THE FVNCTIONS OF 



quently, of theakull. The truth must be ascertained, not by fancy- 

 ing, quibbling, and abusing, but by observing whether this is the 

 case : and every one has it in his power to make the necessary ob- 

 servations. I had heard of a religious bump, a thievish bump, 

 and a murderous bump, and was as lavish of my ridicule and con- 

 tempt of Dr.Gall's doctrine as any one, till I heard Dr. Spurzheim's 

 lectures in the Medico-Chirurgical Society. His modesty, can- 

 dour, and sound sense, struck me powerfully ; his anatomical facts 

 were demonstrated ; his metaphysics were simple and natural ; 

 and the truth of his craniology was evidently to be ascertained 

 by personal observation only. I commenced observations, and 

 so satisfied was I of its correctness, that whilst the storm was 

 raging violently against the German physicians, I wrote an ano- 

 nymous defence of them in the only review that declared itself 

 their friend. Three years have now elapsed, and my obser- 

 vations have been much extended, but they all confirm Dr. Spurz- 

 heim's statements. Of the accuracy of his general division of 

 the organs, and of the situation of many particular ones, I am 

 quite certain. Upon some organs I have not yet made sufficient 

 observations, and I have no doubt that our views of the func- 

 tions of many organs will be much modified and improved. It 

 would be absurd to think the system perfect at present. The 

 wonder is that so much has been already done, and that by only 

 two individuals. The whole praise of discovery belongs to 

 Dr. Gall, but Dr. Spurzheim has made such advances and im- 

 provements as to have almost equal merit. The science of 

 craniology is entirely theirs ; nearly so henceforward will me- 

 taphysics be regarded ; and anatomy must acknowledge them 

 among its greatest benefactors. Those who wish to become 

 acquainted with craniology I must refer to Dr. Spurzheim's well 

 known English work,* and to a very clear, forcible, and tempe- 

 rate publication, by Mr. Coombe, a surgeon in Edinburgh.^ Who- 



• The Physiognomonical System of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim. 



•f Essays on Phrenology, or an enquiry into the principles 'and utility of 

 the system of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim, and into the objections made against it. 

 IMMk 1819. 



