sition to what men firmly believed to be the true interpretation of the works of God's hand? And such will again be the result if these men once more obstinately oppose themselves to the progress of truth. It is in vain to say that Phrenology, if true, is dangerous: truth cannot be dangerous; error only is so. The only question then to be asked is, Is it true? and if this be satisfactorily proved, let them hail it as a divine truth, let them feel assured that it must be consistent with Scripture rightly interpreted. It is the particular interpretation, then, that has been put upon parts of Scripture that must be examined; and if, upon investigation, it be found that certain passages have been understood in a literal sense, where the great commentary of nature, in other words, the works of God, in-dicate a metaphorical to be the true one, (as in the case of the creation illustrated by geology), let them at once come forward, as worshippers at the shrine of truth, and boldly proclaim, that what man in his ignorance had called a literal day, the Eternal has, by his works, declared to be a thousand years, both in his sight being alike. In such a spirit as this, by a willingness to believe all science to be in harmony with revelation, what beneficial results might we not anticipate for religion, when men saw that it did not run counter to what they all felt to be true, and that its professors, instead of attempting to extinguish the torch of science, held it boldly up, to add its "confirmation strong" to the grand truths of Scripture, whilst its light enabled them to define those minor features whose details had been hitherto somewhat obscure. How differently would religion then be regarded by thinking men.

If this be true of geology, or of science in general, how preeminently is it so of Phrenology-a science which lays bare the chords by which the human mind sends forth its harmonies and its discords- -a science which enables us to attune those chords so nicely, that the breath of Christianity in passing over them may hereafter draw forth their tones in richest unison; a consummation how devoutly to be wished! When we withdraw our eyes from this glorious prospect and turn them back upon the past, does it not appear wonderful that a discovery, professing to confer upon us the power of working such changes and improvements on the human mind, should have been frowned upon, and scouted as the enemy of man's best interests? Great, indeed, is the power of prejudice; but greater still is the power of truth, and though it may work its way imperceptibly, advance it must in spite of all impediments.

Many may be disposed to smile at all this as utopian. These are not the days, however, to rest satisfied with smiles. The human mind has been aroused from its long lethargic sleep, and feels an insatiable thirst for all sound knowledge; and if

those who ought to bring all departments of it to aid in the great object of elevating our nature,-who should be all things to all men,-who, while they give milk to babes, should give meat to the strong,-if these declare that what the world finds upon trial to be "meat" is only poison, we must not be surprised that the world turns a deaf ear to them. But let us hope that the prejudice which has led to such opinions will soon disappear, and that the time is approaching when sound knowledge of every kind will be hailed as the handmaid of religion.*

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Are there any who still have lurking fears, that Phrenology usurps the place of Christianity, or treats the Gospel as an old wives' fable?" If so, let a short allegory in conclusion dispel their dread.

The human mind is a garden on which the sun of Christianity has been shining for centuries. The mental gardeners, unable to gain admission, or to see over the walls, were obliged to content themselves with throwing over the seed, some here and some there. They lamented that but a small portion sprung up and bore fruit. They presumed that something was wrong; but how could they remedy that something, while they were unable to perceive the real cause? Nay, even though they might guess its general nature, what the better were they? But now the key of Phrenology has thrown open the garden door, and lo! we have the cause lying palpably before our eyes. Here we see thorns running wild, which, being originally there, have been acted upon by that same sun, even to the detriment of the garden; and there we perceive the thin soil which was quickly exhausted, and could bring nothing to maturity. Now, the moral philosophy of Phrenology points out the implements by which we may cut down the thorns to their proper dimensions, and turn them to useful purposes, and by which we may gradually so deepen and improve the soil, that the sun may draw from it thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold. But this is the work of time. The operations of nature are slow, and whether we

• It is remarkable that while the prejudices alluded to in the text are so rife in the under current of private society, no divine has ventured, as far as I am aware, to support them by the authority of his name. Dr Chalmers' Bridgewater Treatise runs parallel in its subject to Mr Combe's Constitution of Man, yet although the latter work has been in the hands of the public since 1828, and Dr Chalmers published recently, he takes no notice of its existence; an omission not conceivable if he had regarded it as dangerous, and had been prepared to refute it. The late Dr Andrew Thomson was to some extent acquainted with Phrenology, and he survived the publication of the Constitution of Man for some years; yet although he was the editor of the Christian Instructor, a ready writer, and neither loth nor slow to attack error in every form, he never published a word against it. Even now, who among the clergy ventures his name and fame in the lists against Phrenology?—Not one. Every thinking man will infer from these facts, that it is assailed by mere blind prejudice, and by prejudice alone, which must yield to the progress of investigation and of reason.

are endeavouring to produce the fruits of the mind or of the earth, we must not expect miracles. It is our part to clear the ground. Succeeding generations will reap the fruits. To continue our allegory. Let us hope that the hitherto excluded mental cultivators will now take the advantage of the key thus offered, and walk round the garden, and, if they find all as we say, that they will lend their willing aid in bringing the mental mould into so high a state, that the sun of Christianity may at last draw forth such beauty and luxuriance as to picture to us a second garden of Eden.

ARTICLE XI.

CASE OF INJURY SUSTAINED BY THE ORGAN OF LANGUAGE. By JAMES INGLIS, M. D., M. R. C. S. E.*

As the doctrines of Phrenology can be supported and strengthened only by facts, the following notes, taken at the bed-side of the patient (without having Phrenology in view), will, it is hoped, add at least a little weight to them.

Maria Wilson or Kennedy, aged 33, was shot by a sheriffofficer named Blair, on Thursday the 24th December 1835, in the village of Springholm, near Castle-Douglas. The ball entered the cranium at the external orbitar angle of the frontal bone. On the Tuesday following, I was requested to visit her, along with my friend Mr M'Keur. It appeared that, on the night of the injury, she had had an epileptic fit; that, from that time till the. Saturday morning following, she had remained insensible; but that, during some part of that day, sensibility had returned, and that she had continued in the use of all her faculties until the Tuesday morning, when we saw her, at which time she answered questions correctly, and the memory was quite unimpaired. She complained of some pain of the back part of the head, but especially of a dull, heavy, constant pain in the region of the wound. This was increased by some degree of vertigo, which followed from assuming the erect posture. A probe was introduced into the wound, and, after penetrating about an inch and a quarter, was stopped by a splinter of bone. On passing the probe a little to the right, or towards the median line, the bullet was distinctly felt, having penetrated both tables of the bone, imbedded deep in the rugged edge of the internal one. A sufficient incision being made, I succeeded, after considerable force had been used, to extract the bullet. It was flattened on

• We have omitted some unimportant medical details.-EDITOR.

one side and rugged, having the impression of the bone into which it had been impelled. Several splinters were removed, and also the one mentioned above of greater size, which was pressing upon a portion of the anterior lobe of the brain. The orbitar plate of the frontal bone was also considerably injured; so much so, that, until I removed a small portion of it, which was pressing down upon the eye, the woman complained of something "pricking" the eye-ball.

After all source of irritation had been removed, the external wound was brought together with adhesive straps, and a portion of lint wrung out of cold spring water was applied over all, and ordered to be changed frequently. She was ordered also every third hour a wine glassful of a purgative solution, till the bowels were sufficiently acted on. The pulse was 72 when we left her. The following day, December 30, she complained of violent pain in the back part of the head, but the dull pain in the site of the wound had not returned since the extraction of the ball. Pulse 80. Breathing easy. Had slept for three hours during the night tranquilly. Medicine had operated well.-Decem ber 31. Had slept little, and still complained of the pain in back part of the head. Appears drowsy, and answers questions incoherently. The wound discharges healthy pus. No stool since yesterday. Tongue white, but moist. On Friday, 1st January, I found she had been up frequently sitting by the fire, and had partaken of some animal food, although particularly cautioned against it. The pulse was 100, but not full. Face flushed. Skin hot. Tongue white, but still moist. Wound appeared healthy. She had some degree of stupor, and when roused talked incoherently. The next day (Saturday, 2d January 1836) was the first time that I began to notice the difficulty she had in speaking; the report runs as follows:-" Has slept none. Is, or affects to be, insensible. Complains little of pain. When roused, she observes and knows every one, and understands whatever is said to her. Pulse only 68. Tongue foul, but moist. Pupils natural. Has spoken little since yesterday. Has got out of bed several times. She appears to have lost the memory for words; thus she cannot express her wants. Sunday, 3d January. Pulse 68. **** Slept little during the night, but frequently sat up in bed without speaking."

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It was now only, for the first time, that my attention was called to the phrenological import of the case, by the following circumstance: The nurse in attendance on Maria said to me, I won der many times that she does not speak, for her tongue is well enough, and when she wants any thing she cannot name it, so that we have to bring a number of things to her, and when it is what she wants she gives a kind of smile." These were her exact words, for I took them down at the time as she spoke.

*

She continued nearly in the same state for the next two days, when, after getting into a passion at her attendants, she became rather more comatose. The pulse was 60; heat of head increased, especially in the forehead. An ample blister applied to the head.-Wednesday, 6th January. Was up several times; appeared to notice every thing that was going on, but never spoke, except in monosyllables. A considerable discharge took place from the wound, and a small piece of bone came away. * * *-Thursday, 7th. Still cannot find words to express her wants.-Saturday, 9th January. The symptoms to-day are improving. * * She is quite collected. The power of speech is also returning.-Monday, 11th. Pulse only 48; slept well. Considerable pain of back part of head, but none now in region of the wound. Talks now slowly, and with some hesitation. The wound is greatly cicatrized.

All the symptoms have gone on improving down to the present date (January 18). Still, however, she forgets some words; and, when talking about any thing, she repeats the same words several times before she can recollect others to express her ideas in succession; and often stops short in the middle of a sentence, telling the nurse to finish it for her. I am afraid that the detail of the above case has been somewhat tedious; but from it we find, that whilst, throughout, her other faculties have, for the most part, been unimpaired, that of speech, or rather the memory of words to express ideas or feelings resulting from the other faculties, has been very much affected. We find, too, that even this symptom did not appear till, imprudently, she excited the circulating system on the 1st January, (nine days after the receipt of the injury,) and that then the pulse was greatly accelerated from its wonted state; that some head symptoms appeared; and that the "weak point," as is always the case, suffered most, and continued to suffer, long after the other symptoms had completely subsided.

Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, 18th January 1836.

POSTSCRIPT.

My patient, Maria Wilson, is now out of danger, and the memory for words is quite restored. I had another case the other day of a somewhat similar nature a boy who complained of violent pain over both eyes, and also of the eye-balls, as if they were about to start from their sockets. When I saw him, he spoke a few words, and then stopt short. He commenced again and again, with a like result.Cold cloths being applied over the eyes and frontal ridge, he experienced great relief; and, after two hours' continuance, words flowed upon him as uninterruptedly as before. He then told me, that he knew well enough