Phrenology. 365 



such reasoning was cogent, animals would incline to fight in pro- 

 portion to their power. This however is not the cause. A wren 

 will defeat a much larger bird; we often see a large dog run away 

 from a small one, and a diminutive man is as pertinacious in as- 

 serting his rights, and as pugnacious in maintaining them, as a taller 

 or more portly individual. Their explanation therefore is not sat- 

 isfactory, and repeated observation proves the assistance of an 

 organ, and also the inateness of this propensity. The representa- 

 tions of the ancient gladiators show this organ large in them, and 

 also among the wrestlers. Among animals the horse presents an 

 interesting subject of attention in this respect. In this country 

 and in England shy horses are very common. In the latter re- 

 markably so, which peculiarity is explained when we learn that 

 narrowness of head is deemed a mark of beauty, and the race prop- 

 agated on this principle necessarily have the organ small. It is re- 

 markably small in very timid horses, and is called combativeness. 



Phrenology, in common with all other sciences, has its difficul- 

 ties. In examining the organs of the lateral region, for example, 

 it is necessary to touch the head, not only on account of the hair, 

 but also because of the intervention of muscles. We must like- 

 wise attend to the dimensions of the individual cerebral parts, in 

 order to judge of the organs, for this consideration involves very 

 important results. 



No physiologist need be told, that short and voluminous mus- 

 cles are more indicative of strength, than long and slender ones. 

 We frequently see children who are remarkably active and unsus- 

 ceptible of fatigue, but at the same time are incapable of lifting 

 any considerable weight; this however is readily accomplished 

 by a child having less general activity. In the former case, the 

 muscles are long and slender, and in the latter short and thick. 



The phrenologist constantly meets with analogous instances in 

 regard to mental phenomena. There are individuals who are con- 

 stantly reasoning, yet possessed of httle depth of understanding, 

 whose powers are ever active, yet accomplish nothing great. On 

 the other hand, there are persons exhibiting very little mental ac- 

 tivity, but when once engaged, produce grand results. Hence an 

 elongation of the cerebral fibres is regarded by phrenologists as 

 indicative of activity., and the contrary as evidence. of energy or in- 

 tensity in the mental powers. 



In view of these and similar facts, great attention to the limits 

 of the organs is obviously very requisite, in measuring the cere- 

 bral developments. 



In proportion as the organs are necessary for the preservation 

 of man, and the nearer they approach to animal instincts, the 



