144 PHRENOLOGY. 



Emily. In what part of the brain does this faculty 

 of sensation reside ? 



Dr. B. This is a question not so easily answered as 

 might at first sight, be supposed ; for though the brain 

 has been examined with more care, interest, and perse- 

 verance than any other organ in the body, yet very little 

 is certainly known of the functions of its various parts. 

 The older physiologists thought there must be some com- 

 mon point in the brain where all the nerves terminated, 

 and whither all the impressions are conveyed. This 

 spot they were accustomed to call the sensorium com- 

 mune, or common sensorium, -and it was located in vari- 

 ous parts of the brain, according as whim, or hypothesis 

 dictated. As for the source of volition, we know no 

 rnore than about that of sensation. Many experiments 

 lave been performed with the view of throwing light on 

 ;his subject, but at present their results are too clashing 

 to warrant us in deducing from them, any general truths. 

 As for the intellectual faculties, modern physiologists have 

 been fond of assigning them distinct seats in the brain, 

 and lately this view of the matter has been extensively 

 developed and wrought up into a regular system which 

 is exceedingly plausible and has been received by many 

 and some very distinguished physiologists. 



Emily. O, you allude to Phrenology. Do tell me 

 something about this system, for the accounts respecting 

 it are so contradictory that one can hardly tell from 

 them, whether to consider it as the dreams of visiona- 

 ries, or the results of sound philosophy. 



J) r , J5. Such is always the case, when men under- 

 take the discussion of doctrines, with minds already oc- 

 cupied by violent prejudices. But you may be assured, 

 that a science, which within thirty years has been gain- 

 ing ground so fast, that it now numbers among its advo- 

 cates some of the most distinguished scientific men of 

 the present day ; that pretends to establish its principles 

 only on numerous and well observed facts, cannot, with 

 the slightest justice, be associated with the fancies of 



