388 MENTAL FUNCTIONS OF 



parents in the latter respect, as well as in talent and disposition ; 

 and he will not merely find incessant amusement, but feel himself 



philosophy was Dr. Spurzheim's ! In one part (Phrenology, p. 666. ) he says 

 that Dr. Spurzheim " is second in fortune rather than in merit to Dr. Gall ! " 

 " that we owe much of its excellence and interest to this gifted individual; he 

 has enriched it with the most valuable anatomical discoveries ; ascertained the 

 functions of several highly important organs ; shed over it the lights of a refined 

 and analytic philosophy, and pointed out the most important field of its appli- 

 cation : " " with profound gratitude and respect, therefore, I acknowledge 

 myself indebted," not to Gall, but "to Dr. Spurzheim, for the greatest gift which 

 it was possible for one individual to confer on another, a knowledge of the true 

 philosophy of man." In the Ed. P/ir. Journ. No. vi. p. 186., the editors "are 

 almost inclined to doubt whether they are right in assigning Dr. S. a place 

 second to any." (l.c.p. 666.) M. Chenevix, in the Foreign Quarterly (p.9.), among 

 other incorrect statements, says that the old method of dissecting the brain appear- 

 ing faulty, " Drs. Gall and Spurzheim were induced to invent some other mode." 

 In America, where phrenology has been hitherto learned solely from Dr. S.'s 

 book, and from himself personally, they are still more extravagant. " The 

 labours of Dr. Spurzheim as an anatomist have produced a reform in the study 

 of the nervous system which will for ever sustain him in the first rank of his 

 profession. To be convinced of this, we have only to examine the state of 

 knowledge in relation to the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the brain 

 and spinal marrow, before he devoted himself to the investigation of those most 

 important branches of science." (Gall had therefore done nothing !) " That 

 Spurzheim was superior to Gall as an anatomist, we believe all admit ! " They 

 then quote an assertion of Dr. S., that Gall once said to him, in 1805, "let 

 us prosecute our original plan honestly ; you, Spurzheim, as an anatomist, and I 

 as a physiologist." If there was any truth in this, it could only have amounted to 

 some kind encouragement of Gall to the young man ; for Gall had then made all 

 his important discoveries, and Dr. S. had only just finished his studies, just begun 

 to learn to dissect the brain, and been engaged by Gall as his assistant. Hear the 

 same writer again. " To express a preference is not to decide the question ; and 

 when we evince our partiality for Spurzheim as a philosopher, we merely give 

 an individual opinion. His views, in our estimation, are more philosophic than 

 those of Gall ; more consistent, and more practical. Spurzheim carefully studied 

 all the parts of the science with reference to each other, and aimed at a perfect 

 whole. Gall did not do so much." (Phr. in connection with the Study of Phy- 

 siognomy, to which is prefixed a Biography of tlie Author, by Nahum Capen. 1 833. 

 Nay, Dr. S.'s English friends at one time treated Gall's name with contempt, 

 to elevate Dr. S. When Dr. S. lectured here, I heard his friends declare that 

 his doctrines were worth their weight in gold that he was the philosopher : 

 whereas when I went to Paris, and conversed with Gall, I heard from his lips 

 all the philosophy for which Dr. S. had gained credit in England ; I imme- 

 diately saw the difference between the great original and the pupil. Those who 

 are well acquainted with ^Gall's writings, and knew both him and Dr. S. in 



