presented to the Society by Dr Oswald. He also read a letter from Monsieur A. A. Royer of Paris, announcing a donation of two boxes, containing as under.* Mr W. A. F. No • CONTENTS OF THE BOX No I. Casts of the Heads of 2 Le Chevalier de Lyon murderers 3 Boutillier No Casts of the Heads of 15 Madame Carter, suicide 17 Horace Vernet, painter and artist 20 Brain of an Idiot 22 Portion of the brain of Deville the CONTENTS OF No II. No 50 A Dolphin Skulls of 39 Marat, of revolutionary notoriety 69 A Roebuck, young 40 Deshayes, engineer 41 The young Carner 42 Cast of a human brain 43 Cast of the skull of Françoise, 70 A European Badger 71 A Seal, male 72 A Spaniel Dog 73 A young Polecat 74 A common Rat 75 A Rabbit of 4 months 77 A male Frog 78 Two Swans and one Goose 80 Domestic Fowls, male and female 82 Poule Sultane 83 A Balbuzard and one Chereche Browne, student of medicine, and Mr John Cox of Gorgie Mill, were admitted ordinary members. And Mr James C. Miller, Stranraer, and Mr Vandenhoff, of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, as corresponding members. Mr Robert Ellis was appointed Keeper of the Museum; and the Secretary was instructed to announce the arrival of Monsieur Royer's donation when it should come to hand; and, at same time, to intimate to the public, that the Hall will continue open, as usual, upon the Saturdays, for exhibition of the casts. ARTICLE XII. DR MILLIGAN v. PHRENOLOGY. DR MILLIGAN has translated "Majendie's Elementary "Treatise on Physiology, for the use of Students," and enriched it with notes. Among other topics he discusses Phrenology. We have not room to analyse all his statements, but submit a few observations on the following : Dr Milligan. "We here take no notice of the hypothesis of "Gall and Spurzheim, which supposes that there are 35 dif"ferent faculties, all seated on the surface of the brain." The Phrenological Doctrine. "It must be recollected that the organs are NOT CONFINED TO THE SURFACE OR CONVOLUTIONS OF THE BRAIN, but that they extend from the surface to the "basis, or medulla oblongata."-COMBE's Essays on Phrenology, p. 211. Dr Milligan. "An eminent anatomist, Dr Barclay, (on Life, p. 376,) asserts, that no supporter of this hypothesis will un"dertake to point out eminences in the brain, which correspond to "these external osseous protuberances." Dr Barclay has made no such assertion; and if Dr Milligan will read again the page of this author's work to which he refers, he will find that he does not touch in the slightest degree upon the question, whether the "eminences in the brain correspond to the external osseous protuberances,” or not. Dr Milligan. "The Phrenologists, however, now very pro"perly appeal from anatomy and physiology to facts." It is absurd to say that the Phrenologists appeal from the anatomy and physiology of the brain to facts of a different kind, because the anatomy of the brain does not indicate the functions of its different parts, and therefore cannot prove any thing against Phrenology, if it establishes nothing in its favour. Does Dr Milligan recollect, that his coadjutor, in the refutation of our science, Dr Roget, has said, that "the brain is still as incomprehensible in its functions as it is sub"tile and complex in its anatomy;" and that " its structure is "so void of apparent adaptation to any purpose we can understand, "that it will suit any physiological system equally well?" It is sheer absurdity, therefore, to talk of appealing from anatomy and physiology, as if they either had shed or were capable of furnishing a single ray of light concerning the functions of the different parts of the brain. We venture to assert, that although Dr Milligan has translated " Majendie's Com"pendium of Physiology for the use of Students," and added to it" the translator's Notes," he knows no more of the functions of these different parts, in virtue of his anatomy and physiology, than the goose quill with which he penned the foregoing precious specimens of philosophical acumen. Dr Milligan. "Phrenology places all the finer and more ex"alted faculties of our nature in some region or other of the fore"head." This is equally incorrect with the Doctor's other observations. The organs of Concentrativeness and Love of Approbation are marked in the upper and back part of the head, and the organs of the whole moral sentiments in the coronal surface, and they extend to the medulla oblongata respectively, altogether unconnected with the forehead. Dr Milligan. "I have repeatedly observed, that the most ex"tensive and available mental powers, as well as the most en"thusiastic proclivity for individual pursuits, occur frequently "in persons whose forehead is perfectly free of any bumps or pro"tuberance whatever." The Phrenological Doctrine. " Our aim ought to be to distin"guish the SIZE AND NOT THE MERE PROMINENCE of each organ. "If one organ be much developed, and the neighbouring organs very little, the developed organ presents an elevation or pro 66 66 "tuberance: but if the neighbouring organs be developed in proportion, NO PROTUBERANCE CAN BE PERCEIVED, AND THE SURFACE IS SMOOTH." Essays on Phrenology, p. 211.-Did Dr Milligan imagine, when he wrote the foregoing sentence, that he was stating an objection to Phrenology? There are no bumps in the forehead of Lord Bacon! Dr Milligan. "Every one of course will judge for himself in "this way; as far as my own experience has gone, it has been entirely unfavourable to craniology; and my trials have both been 66 numerous, and made on persons whose internal faculties were "strongly developed." Dr Milligan was in a fine condition for making accurate observations. His own notes show an ignorance of the principles of the science surpassed only by his unacquaintance with its practical details. Dr Milligan. "On the whole, facts seem to go against the Phrenologist: his doctrine has now been submitted to the ex"perience of the world for nearly thirty years, yet, in all that period, so marked by a maniacal rage for scribbling, no one "scientific person of eminence has appeared in its defence. "We count not small authors in a matter so important." Phrenology has been assailed by the Combativeness and Destructiveness of some opponents, and by the wit of others; but it was reserved to Dr Milligan to form and act upon the brilliant conception of extinguishing it by a mighty manifestation of SELF-ESTEEM! Surely induction itself must yield before the rebuke of so great a man, as “E. MILLIGAN, M.D., LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, EXTRAORDINARY MEMBER OF THE ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY, LECTURER ON PHYSIOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS IN EDINBURGH, AND TRANSLATOR OF MAJENDIE'S COMPENDIUM 66 FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS!!!" This is Dr Milligan's typography. END OF No III. PRINTED BY OLIVER AND BOYD. |