Phrenology Up to Date.

Fair Play, Volume I, Issue 9, 30 December 1893, Page 17

Phrenology Up to Date.

It is now nearly one hundred years since Dr. Gall announced to the world his' science of human character, his first series of lectures on the subject being delivered in Berlin in 1796. In the year 1800 he gave a second and more important course in Paris. From the latter date phrenology takes its birth. No child, born of deep thought and careful observation, ever had so unwelcome a reception. The metaphysicians, the doctors, and the learned all round ridiculed, denounced, and utterly condemned the poor thing as the greatest humbug of the age. But, in spite of all opposition, it continued to live, grow, and extend its influence, under the zealous care of its parent and guardians to all civilised lands.

There are even yet some good people who cannot take kindly to phrenology. They believe that the brain acts as a unit rather than as a number of clearlydefined organs, each of which performs a distinct function; that the shape of the brain may not correspond with the form of the skull; that human nature is too complex to be systematised into a science. These are the strongest objections to phrenology, but each of them can be fairly and fully answered: —

1. The Brain a Unit.—lf this were the case all people would be naturally alike in their traits, dispositions, and characteristics. But such is not the case. There are no two exactly the same, and they are found to differ just as their organisations differ. At school one boy is clever at figures but dull at grammar, while another has ability for history, geography, f’c\ but cannot draw. This shows there is a fundamental difference to begin with, and this difference is undoubtedly caused by difference in organisation, independent of education. Observation has demonstrated that certain parts of the brain perform certain functions—the posterior lobe gives the social feelings, the coronal region, the moral sentiments; and the frontal lobe the reasoning faculties. Each of these lobes is divided by phrenologists into a number of organs, each of which represents a distinct trait of character, but is connected in function with the whole of the same group. The organs of secretiveness, caution, continuity, inhabitiveness, and friendship are all contiguous in loca-

tion and function. Intuition, benevolence, voneration, spirituality, hope, and ideality are the same. So with each group. This is a natural and orderly arrangement, and is fully borne out by experience and observation.

2. The Brain and shape of the Skull.— In the process of individual evolution the brain is first (formed and the skull is shaped according to the configuration of the brain. The brain is primary and the skull only secondary, consequently it is formed-for the brain just as the ribs are formed for the heart and lungs, and shaped according to then* development. 3. Complexity of Human Nature. — Phrenology systematises and simplifies the human organism by dividing it into three temperaments—the vital, the motive, and the mental temperaments. The vital temperament embraces the heart, lungs, stomach, and all the internal system, which creates or circulates the life force. When large it gives fulness, roundness, and good health to the physical constitution. The motive temperament embraces the framework, bones, muscles, &c., and gives man activity and endurance when large. The mental temperament includes the brain and the nervous Bystem. It gives thought, power, and mental activity. These three temperaments embrace the entire organisation of man, and any competent phrenologist can perceive their development, combination, and influence on character at a glance. Each temperament shows its development, and consequent influence in the face of every individual. When these temperaments are large they bestow good health, physical endurance, and mental ability. It is always an advantage, therefore, to have them well developed and equally blended. They then give strength and completeness to character. But if one is large and the other small it leads to eccentricity and an unbalanced disposition. In reading character, the expert phrenologist always makes these temperaments the basis of his operations. He also notices the breathing powtr, digestive power, circulation of the blood, and the organic quqhty of the person he is reading. All these have great influence on character, ability, and disposition. These added to the map of the head supplied by phrenology form a pretty complete science of character. _ It will now be seen that phrenology up to date is notmerely “bumpology,” but includes knowledge of anatomy, physiology and physiognomy. In fact, these are the very bases of the science of character reading. The mistake of the early phrenologists was in depending too much upon the brain per sc. It is now known that a medium brain with good physical endowments will do more useful work than a large brain with weak vital and motive temperaments. What is required in all cases for the completion and perfection of character is well-developed temperaments and organs of the brain. It is the small faculties, not the large ones, which do the mischief. It should be the object of all to fully unfold and perfect every faculty of their being by active work or useful exercise—as all faculties improve by use

and become defective by idleness—then general health, serenity of mind, and continual happiness will bo the result. Phrenology up to date embraces a knowledge of the whole organism—physical, mental, moral and spiritual.