208 MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE. 



mental powers. * * * * When the sculptors of 

 antiquity formed the statues of their gods, or heroes, to 

 which they were desirous of imparting a character of high 

 intelligence, they endeavored to accomplish this by giving 

 a peculiar form to the head." * * 



646. " The arguments which have been urged in favor 

 of the science of cranioscopy,"* continues Dr. Bostock, 

 " are partly anatomical and partly physiological. In the 

 first place it is said, that the brain exhibits a very elabo- 

 rate structure, and a very complicated organization, and 

 it is therefore reasonable to conclude, that its different 

 parts must be subservient to the exercise of different 

 functions." 



647. " Secondly, both metaphysicians and physiologists 

 have been in the habit of referring all the impressions 

 which we receive through the intervention of the nerves, 

 to some central part of the brain, but the great diversity 

 of opinion which exists respecting the part which ought to 

 be regarded as this common centre, affords us at least a 

 strong presumption of its non-existence, while on the con- 

 trary, if we suppose that there actually is such a central 

 spot, we are at a loss to assign any use to the remainder of 

 the brain." 



" 648. Thirdly, we are in possession of a number of ob- 

 servations upon the partial loss of the mental faculties, in 

 consequence of disease or injury of the brain, and although 

 we are not able to trace out the connexion between the 

 situation of the injury received, and the defect of the men- 

 tal powers, yet it favors the opinion that these faculties are 

 distributed over the different parts, of which the brain is 

 constituted. 



649. " Fourthly, the analogy of the nerves that are 

 connected with the external organ of sense is adduced by 

 the cranioscopists in favor of their doctrine. Each of these 

 nerves,- in conveying their respective impressions, must ex- 

 ercise a different office, and in the same way, the different 

 convolutions of the brain are supposed to be the organs of 

 the respective mental functions. 



* Dr. Bostock remarks, that this being the term originally employed, 

 and being much more appropriate than phrenology, he continues to use it 



