The Daily Cincinnati Republican, And Commercial Register

PHRENOLOGY.

I was present a few days since, when Messrs.
Farnham & Fowler made a phrenological examination of the inmates in the Lunatic Asylum. From
the manner in which it was conducted, the possibility of imposition, even had it been intended, was
obviated. The gentlemen had never visited the
asylum before; they saw the persons for the first
time; and without any clue to their habits or disposition, they proceeded to the examination of their
heads, and the size of the organs as given by the
examiner, was immediately recorded. In every
case, in which the mental alienation was not evidently the result of disease of the brain, the results
were strikingly correct. Doctor Herron, the resident Physician of the Hospital and Asylum, had
previously examined, with all practical minuteness,
the history, causes and nature of the lunacy of each
of them; and in every instance, where the lunacy
had been attributed by him, to malformation and
not to diseased structure, the case corroborated the
principles of the science, and the nature of the lunacy was pointed out, with accuracy, by the phrenologist. Two or three of the cases that are clearly dependent upon defective form of the brain, are
extreme ones, and consequently are the best tests
of the science; for the most palpable proofs of the
validity of any system of doctrine are drawn, always, from extreme cases.

The symptoms are always sufficiently obvious
to determine the diagnosis; and a very moderately
practiced eye can quickly distinguish whether the
defect depend upon deficiency in the quantum, or
diseased condition, of the organ. When the latter
is the case, the craniometer is, of course, inapplicable. It is only when the tone and energy of the
nervous tissue is at a healthy standard and when
there is no disease of the organ, that its size can
be regarded as an index of its power.

The reason why the size of the organ in the infant brain, which is of much greater relative size
than that of the adult, is not a measure of its power,
is because it is totally different from that of the adult in consistence.

The brain of the infant at two months is almost
semi-fluid; while that of the adult is comparatively
compact and firm. The brains of most idiots, who
have large and even well shaped heads resemble in
this respect the brain of an infant.

It has long been matter of surprise; that the fundamental principles of phrenology should find among their violent opposers and detractors, so many persons, whose habits of accurate and methodical reasoning, we might expect, would lead them
to form a different estimate of their merits. For if
there is any theory concerning the connection of
matter and life, and of inert matter and its anterior
cause that is based upon clear and incontrovertible
induction it is that upon which phrenology is founded. This science teaches that the brain is the organ of the mind. The brain is complex; composed
of a variety of organs or parts varying from each
other both in form and consistence. Indeed the
organization is so multiplex and singularly arranged
that it requires no little research and dissection to
obtain even a tolerably accurate idea of its anatomy.
All agree that the mind is composed of numerous
distinct faculties. Now if phrenology teaches that
this diversity of form and structure has place for
some wise reason; which is that each organ may be
the appropriate functionary of the different attributes or faculties of the mind, it is certainly quite
as rational in its precepts as that theory which
would assign no reason for, and contend that there
is no design in, so singular a complication.

That some of the details of this science as at
present taught are erroneous, will be admitted.
Phrenology is yet in its infancy. Trace any science
or branch of science to its infancy and you will find
it imperfect.

It must struggle against those obstacles as every
other science has done; but that it will one day
surmount them is beyond all doubt. And its uses,
as has been the case with all other discoveries, will,
doubtless, be very different from those at present
claimed for it.

I predict that it will aid greatly in clearing the
way to a perception of vital influx, or the laws
which govern not only in the animation, but also in
the creation, of matter; and its application to the
heads of men will be considered a use of secondary
importance.

IOTA.