PHRENOLOGY. 145 



dreamers, or fanatics, but is worthy the examination of 

 all sound and inquiring minds. According to phrenolo- 

 gy, the brain is an aggregate of several organs of a con- 

 ical form, originating by their apex from a common 

 point in the centre of the brain, and terminating by their 

 base on its circumference. These organs are the seat 

 of the various moral and intellectual faculties, which are 

 distinct from, and in some measure independent of each 

 other. Those to which the intellectual faculties belong, 

 occupy the front part of the head, while the moral and 

 animal passions are exercised by the middle and poster- 

 ior portions. The strength or capacity of the faculties, 

 is in a direct proportion to the size of these particular 

 organs, and that of the whole brain. The relative size 

 of any particular organ, and the strength of its correspond- 

 ing faculty may be estimated by examining itst ermina- 

 tion on the surface of the brain. If it swells above the 

 rest, appearing like a bump or protuberance, the organ is 

 large and well developed, and the faculty will form a 

 prominent feature in his moral, or intellectual character. 



Emily. But Dr. B,, when you described the brain, 

 you said nothing of these organs which are the very 

 foundation of the phrenological doctrine. 



Dr. B. They were not mentioned, because in truth 

 they cannot be distinguished. All the other proposi- 

 tions of phrenology may be established by fact, or sound 

 reasoning, but as to the form, size, or even existence 

 of these organs, anatomy gives us no light whatever. 



Emily. May not the strength of any particular fac- 

 ulty depend in some degree on the fineness and perfec- 

 tion of structure, as well as absolute size of the organ. 

 It is not those who have the largest eyes or ears that see 

 or hear best, or those who have the largest muscles that 

 can lift most, and why should he who has the largest 

 organs, or brains, think and feel most strongly ? 



Dr. B. Perhaps the perfection of a faculty depends 

 in some degree on organization, but there are strong 

 grounds for believing that it. depends chiefly on size. 

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