my still lurks in secret, and requires our constant watchfulness to check him.

We have heard another case stated as an objection. Suppose that two individuals possess an organization exactly similar, but that one is highly educated and the other left entirely to the impulses of nature; the former will manifest his faculties with higher power than the latter; and hence it is argued that size is not in all cases a measure of energy.

Here, however, the ceteris paribus does not hold. An important condition is altered, and the phrenologist uniformly allows for the effects of education before drawing positive conclusions. See Phrenological Transactions, p. 308. The objector may perhaps push his argument farther, and maintain, that if exercise thus increases power, it is impossible tó draw the line of distinction between energy derived from this cause and that which proceeds from size in the organs, and hence that the real effects of size can never be determined. In reply, we observe, that education may cause the faculties to manifest themselves with the highest degree of energy which the size of the organs will permit, but that size fixes a limit which education cannot surpass. Dennis, we may presume, received some improvement from education, but it did not render him equal to Pope, much less to Shakspeare or Milton: therefore, if we take two individuals whose brains are equally healthy, but whose organs differ in size, and educate them alike, the advantages in power and attainment will be greatest in the direct ratio of the size in favour of the largest brain. Thus the objection ends in this, that if we compare brains in opposite conditions, we may be led into error-which is granted; but this is not in opposition to the doctrine that, ceteris paribus, size determines power. Finally-extreme deficiency in size produces incapacity for education, as in idiots; while extreme development, if healthy, as in Shakspeare, Burns, Mozart, anticipates its effects in so far that the individuals educate themselves.

In saying then that, ceteris paribus, size is a measure of

power, phrenologists demand no concessions which are not made to physiologists in general, among whom, in this inquiry, they rank themselves.

ARTICLE XIV.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR OBSERVING DEVELOPMENT.

THE fundamental principle of phrenology is, that the energy of the mental manifestations bears a constant and uniform relation, ceteris paribus, to the size of the brain as the organ of mind; and it is ascertained that the brains of different individuals, of the same age and stature, differ much from each other, both in their general size and in the proportions of their component parts. The differences in general size may easily be determined by a visit to a hatter's shop, or by the ocular inspection of a number of heads in any assembly or class-room; and the proportions of the parts of the head may be discovered, by ocular inspection, in the same way. In some, the greater mass of the brain, and consequently of the head, will be seen to lie between the ear and the forehead; in others, from the ear to the occiput or hindhead; and in others, again, it excels in perpendicular height. Great differences in breadth are also remarkable-some being narrow throughout, and others broad. Some are narrow before and broad behind, and vice versa. It is proper to begin with the observation of these generalities, both in order to become familiar with the general size and configuration of heads, and also in order to appreciate the proportion. which the general mass of the three orders of organs bears to each other, in average heads. In estimating the development, we must of course have an idea of the breadth as well as length of the fibre, as breadth is an essential ingredient in size. The length is ascertained by the distance from the opening of the ear to the peripheral surface of the organ; the breadth, by the breadth of the region in which the organ is situated.

Thus the organs of intellect are situated in the forehead, and, in proportion to the length of the line from the ear to that region, is the length of these organs. If the forehead is narrow, then the organs situated there must also be narrow; and if broad, the reverse. If the line from the ear to the forehead is much longer than from the ear backwards, and then we infer that the intel

If the head rises high and

the breadth is nearly the same, lectual organs predominate. broad to the coronal surface, then we infer that the mass of the moral sentiments is great.-These proportions should never be forgotten.

We judge of the length of the organ by the distance from the ear, because a line passing through the head, from one ear to the other, would nearly touch the medulla oblongata, whence all the organs proceed towards the surface. Those of the intellect run forwards; those of the moral sentiments upwards; and those of the propensities backwards and outwards, all nearly from the same centre.

Keeping these points in view, we next proceed to the observation of individual organs: and for this purpose, we should begin with a few of the largest, and select extreme cases. Thus, if we take the organ of Cautiousness, we should examine its development in those whom we know to be remarkable for timidity, doubts, and hesitation. We should contrast the appearance of the organ in such cases with that which it presents in those individuals who are remarkable for heedlessness and rashness, and into whose minds a doubt or a fear never enters. After we are familiar with the extremes of endowment and deficiency, we may proceed to those in the middle line, and follow the same course in studying the functions of all the organs, taking those of intellect last, as being smallest. After having observed individual organs and manifestations for some time, we may then attend to the effects of peculiar combinations. It must, from the first, be kept in mind, that no organ acts alone, and that the direction which each faculty takes is modified by the activity of others.

There are some sources of error in judging of development which it is proper to notice. These are, 1st, mistaken by a bony prominence, such as those sometimes formed by the sutures, or by the mastoid process behind the ear, for the indications of large cerebral organs. This can easily be avoided by a careful inspection of a skull, and learning the situations of those protuberances which occur in every head: 2d, When several neighbouring organs are equally and largely developed, no individual prominence is to be found; and they who seek only for bumps affirm that there is no organ at all. In such cases, a general fulness is perceptible, and the distance from ear to ear, joined in the broad peripheral expansion, points out that the organs are large: 3d, When the organ is very largely developed, it sometimes pushes a neighbouring smaller organ a little out of its place. This may generally be easily distinguished by the greatest prominence being near the centre of the large organ, and the swelling extending over a portion only of the other: 4th, A protuberance is perceptible in those cases alone, in which any single organ is possessed in great vigour, as Self-esteem and Cautiousness, while those beside it are small.

ARTICLE XV.

PHRENOLOGY AND THE MEDICAL SOCIETY.

THE Medical Society of Edinburgh gave out the question, "Does phrenology afford a satisfactory explanation of the "moral and intellectual faculties of man ?" as the subject of an essay by one of its members. The duty to write upon it was transferred by arrangement to Mr Andrew Combe; and the evening of Friday, 21st November 1823, was fixed for hearing the paper and discussing its merits. In conformity with the rules of the society, three copies were previously circulated

among the members for fourteen days, and one copy lay in their hall for nearly as long; and the nature of the essay was thus generally known before the evening of debate. It attracted an unusual attendance of members, and as the society admits visitors, the number of strangers was still greater. The society's hall was found inadequate to contain one half of the persons assembled for admission; but Dr Duncan, junior, having handsomely permitted the use of his class-room in the College, an adjournment to it was proposed and adopted. This apartment, we are informed, is seated for three hundred students; and, as on this occasion, not only the benches, but the passages and area were occupied, we presume that at least four hundred persons were present. Mr Andrew Combe being unable, through indisposition, to read the essay himself, this duty was performed by the president in the chair for the evening.

The essay being concluded, the president invited the members to deliver their sentiments, and added, that the society would be happy to hear visitors also, who might consider themselves as members for the night. The debate immediately commenced, and was supported with much animation till two o'clock in the morning. At this hour, a member moved an adjournment to Tuesday evening, 25th November, at seven o'clock, in the same place, which was unanimously agreed to. The discussion recommenced at the time appointed, and lasted without interruption till a quarter before four on the following morning.

We are at present restrained from reporting the debate, and, therefore, are obliged to be thus brief and general in our statement, which is given merely to introduce a few remarks on some subsequent occurrences

The opposition to phrenology manifested on this occasion proceeded chiefly from members of the society, and the speeches in support of it from visitors. The gentlemen who spoke in opposition were not young men attending the medical classes, as has been represented, but gentlemen of mature years, decorated with literary, scientific, or professional titles.