THE CHOLERIC TEMPERAMENT A FICTION. 989 



ful flow of spirits, and a vigorous exercise of all 

 the functions, with an elevated temperature. 

 They also represent the choleric temperament as 

 marked by a broad chest, a high temperature, a 

 spare but muscular frame, an active circulation, 

 great mental power, and a passion for lofty 

 achievements attributes which have no more 

 connexion with the size of the liver and the quan- 

 tity of its secretion than with the amount of urine 

 or of cutaneous perspiration. And if it be true that 

 the quantity of good arterial blood is in propor- 

 tion to the magnitude and soundness of the lungs, 

 it is evident that the choleric is only a modifica- 

 tion of the sanguine temperament. And if it be 

 true that the intellectual endowments of men 

 are in proportion to the magnitude of the brain, 

 ceteris paribus, it must be more fully developed 

 in such as belong to the choleric temperament, 

 which is characterized by strong passions, aspir- 

 ing ambition, and great energy of mind. It is 

 therefore obvious, that the bilious temperament 

 is a mere phantom, which should be henceforth 

 excluded from the forum of science, and numbered 

 with the fables of antiquity. 



Again, that the melancholic and phlegmatic 

 temperaments are modifications of the same phy- 

 sical constitution, would appear from the fact, that 

 they are both described as characterized by a 

 narrow chest, a deficiency of animal heat, a feeble 

 circulation, an impoverished state of the blood, a 



