594 THE LINGERING ADMIRERS OF PHRENOLOGY. 
the quantity of gray matter varies according to other circum- 
stances besides the size of the skull. The vertical depth at 
any one spot, from the surface of the gray matter down to 
the white, differs in different brains; and what is probably 
more important is, that the complication of the convolutions 
varies greatly. Complex convolutions are probably more 
important than the thickness of the sheet of gray matter, 
because it is obvious that not only quantity but activity of 
texture will be an advantage; and complexity of convolu- 
tions involves inereased surface of vascular membrane, send- 
ing its blood-vessels into the gray matter, and furnishing its 
elements with the means of activity. In harmony with this 
supposition, the simplest condition of the convolutions has 
been found in the brains of the lowest races of humanity, 
and Wagner's comparisons of the brains of various persons 
of ability with others from persons of supposed limited in- 
telligence show more complicated convolutions in the former 
than the latter, although at the same time exhibiting appa- 
rent exceptions to that rule. It may be noticed in this con- 
nection that if two skulls of the same cranial capacity be 
one long and narrow and the other short and broad, the long 
and narrow one is that which has the greatest amount of 
surface, and is therefore most favorable for a large propor- 
tion of gray matter; so that, ceteris paribus, the long skull 
has probably an advantage over the broad skull; while, on 
the other hand, there is no doubt that, with a given model 
of skull to start from, the tendency of expanding hemi- 
spheres is rather to increase the breadth than the length. 
Turning now to the fundamental doctrine of phrenology; 
that dulreu parts of the cerebral hemisphere are the organs 
of different mental faculties, we feel assured that no physi- 
ologist will hesitate in giving it a distinct and emphatic 
denial. It is true that the convolutions of the hemispheres 
=~ fre so constant that they are named; but the existence of 
aS “Oe convolutions is not for the sake of dividing the hemi- 
‘Spheres into In and does not do so, but only affords, 2$ 



