PHRENOLOGY 211 



which can enable us to connect particular injuries of the 

 brain with corresponding injuries of particular faculties. 



658. . " The position that the size of an organ is an indi- 

 cation of the degree of its power, or capacity, a position 

 which may be regarded as almost the fundamental princi- 

 ple on which the whole doctrine rests, is in direct contra- 

 diction to fact. To revert to the case of the eye ; it may 

 be asserted that the perfection of this organ, either when 

 considered with respect to the different species of animals, 

 or to the different individuals of the same species, does not 

 bear the least relation to its size, but depends entirely 

 upon the nature of its organization, and except in those 

 cases where the exercise of an organ is connected with 

 mechanical force, as in muscular contraction, bulk has no 



relation to the perfection of a part. 



* * * ****** 



659. " And even were it proved, as a general principle, 

 that distinct parts of the brain were appropriated to dis- 

 tinct mental functions, we may still be permitted to doubt 

 whether the cranioscopists have been fortunate in their 

 division and appropriation of the functions which are sup- 

 posed to possess these distinct localities. If we consider 

 the subject theoretically, we might presume that there 

 would be a separate organ corresponding to each of the 

 external senses, as the impressions are themselves distinct 

 in their nature, and might be supposed to require some 

 different modification of the nervous matter for their per- 

 ception. And again, with respect to the intellectual pow- 

 ers, there are some which appear so distinct from the 

 others, that we might apply to them the same mode of 

 reasoning, and suppose it probable that they might possess 

 their appropriate organs. The faculty of memory might 

 be supposed to require a different modification of the nerv- 

 ous power from that of the imagination ; and this again 

 from that of abstraction or volition. But we do not ob- 

 serve any classification or division of this kind in the 

 faculties that are enumerated by Dr. Spurzheim, or his 

 disciples. Some of them are complex feelings, resulting 

 from the union of primary perceptions with ideas ; others 

 appear to be a combination of ideas only ; some may be 

 regarded as the obvious result of association, and others 



