THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 361 



Ifit is clear that the brain is the organ of mind, it is extremely 

 probable that particular portions of it have different offices. 



can boast of even their physical strength and instances are not wanting of per- 

 sons, who, between 80 and 90, and even older, when the body can hardly be said to 

 live, possess every faculty of the mind unimpaired." (p. 120.) This statement is 

 perfectly opposite to sound observation. Gall published when between 60 and 70, 

 and in conversation appeared in full possession of his intellect ; nay, as to cere- 

 bellum and body at large, he declared that he never omitted matrimonial duties 

 for 24 hours. Madame Gall assured me, in regard to the whole man, " que le 

 docteur n'etoit pas ^puise* ; que ses forces n'e"toient pas diminue'es !" But what 

 he wrote did not contain a single discovery or new view, and was merely the 

 offspring of his former labours and mental powers. He told me his mind's 

 vigour was impaired, and his head somewhat diminished. A man's judgment 

 may become greater near GO; not from greater strength, but from enlarged 

 experience and longer habit. But let him attempt what is not habitual with him, 

 or let him attempt originality, and, though he may not discover his decline, 

 the rest of the world will. The Archbishop begged to be informed when his 

 sermons showed his mind to be falling off; but was offended beyond forgiveness 

 when Gil Bias told him that his last homily " ne paroit pas tout-a-fait de 

 la force des precedents." " Mon esprit, grace au Ciel," replied the indignant 

 old man, " n'a rien encore perdu de sa vigeur." When old men work at some- 

 thing original, or pursue a course of public intellectual effort, their falling off 

 is manifest, and we discover that the phrase ' retained their faculties to the last,' is 

 vague and incorrect, just as I formerly remarked it to be when applied to persons 

 near dissolution. I am not aware of any great discoveries or original productions 

 by men who had attained the age of 60 ; but, should any instances of full mental 

 vigour in old men be adduced, they would only be exceptions, just like octoge- 

 narian fathers, or persons who we see continually in the papers lived to 90 or 100, 

 and walked so many miles daily to within a week of their death for I know not how 

 many years. An eminent agriculturist has been begetting a family at past 70.* 

 Yet who would fix upon a man of 70 as a postman, or to ensure an heir ? Are 

 not elderly men found to fall off from their full and palmy condition of mind, 

 till they all acquire the title of old women ? There may be varieties in the 

 period of general decline, as there are of full development ; and there may be 

 varieties in the decline of different organs in the same system. Will not the 

 stomachs of some old men receive and digest food as well as those of young ones ? 

 But decline arrives ; and those who use such arguments should show that the 



* Every Sunday newspaper records the death of some wonderful old poor 

 person, and I take this by chance from the Morning Chronicle of the 30th of last 

 November. " The veteran Lord Lynedoch has been visiting at Holkham ; and 

 we are happy to understand that, notwithstanding his advanced age (we believe 

 the venerable General to be in his ninety-second or ninety-third year), he enjoys 

 the diversion of shooting, and sees well enough to kill a hare. Mr. Coke (the 

 agriculturist I alluded to) enjoys and directs the battues with the same health 

 and energy he has done for many years." 



