therefore, two organs for each mental power; one in each hemisphere. Each organ extends from the medulla oblongata, or top of the spinal marrow, to the surface of the brain or cerebellum; and every individual possesses all the organs in a greater or lesser degree. When the two organs of a faculty are situated immediately on the sides of the middle line separating the hemispheres, they are included in one space on the busts and plates. To save circumlocution, the expression, "organ" of a faculty will be used, but both organs will be thereby meant.

The brain is not divided by lines corresponding to those delineated on the busts; but the forms assumed by its different parts, when extremely large or small, exactly resemble those there represented. Each part is inferred to be a separate organ; because its size, cæteris paribus, bears a regular proportion to the energy of a particular mental power.

As size, cæteris paribus, is a measure of power,* the first object ought to be to distinguish the size of the brain generally, so as to judge whether it be large enough to admit of manifestations of ordinary vigor; for if it be too small, idiocy is an invariable consequence. The second object should be to ascertain the relative proportions of the different parts, so as to determine the direction in which the power is greatest.

It is proper to begin with observation of the more palpable differences in size, and particularly to attend to the relative proportions of the different lobes. The size of the anterior lobe is the measure of intellect. In the brain it is easily distinguished, and in the living head it is indicated by the portion lying before Constructiveness and Benevolence. Sometimes the lower part of the frontal lobe, connected with the perceptive faculties, is the largest, and this is indicated by the line before Constructiveness, extending farthest out at the base; sometimes the upper part, connected with the reflecting powers, is the most amply developed, which occurs when the line extends farthest in the upper region; sometimes both are equally developed. The student is particularly requested to resort invariably to this mode of estimating the size of the anterior

* See Introduction, p. 22, 23, 24, &e.

lobe, as the best for avoiding mistakes. In some individuals, and in some Peruvian skulls in particular, the forehead is tolerably perpendicular, so that, seen in front, and judged of without attending to depth, it appears to be largely developed; whereas, when viewed in the way now pointed out, it is seen to be extremely shallow; in other words, the mass is not large, and the intellectual manifestations will be proportionately feeble.

The posterior lobe is devoted chiefly to the animal propensities. In the brain its size is easily distinguished; and in the living head a line may be drawn perpendicularly to the mastoid process, and all behind will belong to the posterior lobe. Wherever this and the basilar region are large, the animal feelings will be strong, and

vice versa.

The coronal region of the brain is the seat of the moral sentiments; and its size may be estimated by the extent of elevation and expansion of the head above the organs of Causality in the forehead, and of Cautiousness in the middle of the parietal bones. When the whole region of the brain rising above these organs is shallow or narrow, the moral feelings will be weakly manifested; when high and expanded, they will be vigorously displayed.

B

A

PROFILE OF BURKE,

A

All that lies before line AA is the anterior lobe, or organs of the intellectual faculties. It is larger in the Reverend Mr. M. than in the other two The space above the horizontal dotted line B marks the region of the moral sentiments: The space fron A backwards, below B, indicates the region of the propensities, which in Burke and Hare is much larger in proportion to the size of the moral and intellectual regions than in the Reverend Mr. M.

These figures were drawn by Mr. Joseph, by the, Camera lucida, from casts from nature. If deduction be made for the thickness of the integuments and skull in all the three, the proportion of the moral regions in Burke and Hare to the animal region will be very small.

By observing the proportions of the different regions, it will be discovered, that, in some instances, the greater mass of the brain lies between the ear and the forehead; in others between the ear and the occiput; and in others above the ear in perpendicular height. Great differences in breadth are also remarkable; some heads being narrow throughout, and some broad. row before, and broad behind, and vice versa. Reverend Mr. M., Mary Macinnes, Pallet, and contrasted with this view.*

Some are nar

The busts of the

Haggart, may be

After becoming familiar with the general size and configuration of heads, the student may proceed to the observation of individual orguns; and, in studying them, the real dimensions, including both length and breadth, and not the mere prominence of each organ, should be looked for.

In estimating the size of the organs, both length and breadth must be attended to. The length of an organ is ascertained by the distance from the medulla oblongata to the peripheral surface. A line passing through the head from one ear to the other, would nearly touch the medulla oblongata, and hence the external opening of the ear is assumed as a convenient point from which to estimate length. The breadth of an organ is judged of by its peripheral expansion; and it is a general law of physiology, that the breadth of any organ throughout its whole course, bears a relation to its expansion at the surface: the optic and olfactory nerves are examples in point. It has been objected that the breadth of the organs cannot be ascertained, because the boundaries of them are not sufficiently determinate.

In answer, I observe, that although the boundaries of the different organs cannot be determined with mathematical precision, like those of a triangle, a square, or rhomboid; yet, in a single case, an accurate observer may make a very near approximation to the

* The Casts and Skulls, referred to in the subsequent pages, will soon be for sale by the publishers, M. C. & L.

truth; and, in a great multitude of cases, the very doctrine of chances, and of the compensation of errors, must satisfy any one that these boundaries may be defined with sufficient precision for all practical purposes. Even in the exact sciences themselves, an approximate solution is frequently all that is attainable; and if the opponents would only make themselves masters of the binomial theorem, or pay a little attention to the expansion of infinite series, they would not persist in calling for a degree of accuracy which is impossible, or in neglecting an important element in a calculation, because it is involved in a certain liability to error within very narrow limits. The absurdity of the reason assigned for this omission, is rendered still more apparent by the case of the prismatic spectrum, which I conceive to be exactly in point. Now, what is it that this beautiful phenomenon displays? The seven primary colors, arranged in a peculiar order, and glowing with an almost painful intensity. But each of these colors occupies a certain space in relation to the whole, the boundaries of which it may be impossible for the hand or eye to trace with geometrical precision, although the relative space in question has nevertheless been made the subject of measurement, and a very close approximation obtained from the mean of a vast number of trials. According to the principle followed by some antiphrenologists, however, breadth should be altogether neglected, because the boundaries of the respective colors are, forsooth, "purely ideal," as if a mathematical line were not the most perfect idealism or abstraction which the mind of man can possibly form. This idealism or abstraction, however, has no more to do with those approximations which may be obtained practically by repeated trials, than the mathematical definition of a line with a metallic rod; and it is a mere quibble to pretend, for example, that we ought not to measure the length of the rod, because it may not correspond with the definition of the line. Upon the strange principle which some opponents have adopted, they must be prepared to maintain, that the boundaries of a hill or hillock are purely ideal, and depend in every instance on the fancy of the measurer.

*

* Caledonian Mercury, 11th June, 1829.