are not to be satisfactorily found in any investigation, either of the superior or posterior part of the head, as Gall has attempted. The reasons of this are obvious. First, the superior and posterior According to other Craniologists. [See Plate XX.] parts of the head present chiefly one or two organs very uniformly constructed, except with regard to the great and more general deviations which have been already explained; and consequently minute forms are with difficulty discerned on them, superficially examined. Secondly, the whole superficies of these organs is covered by the scull, somewhat irregular in its thickness, so as to render it difficult to calculate what may be the minute conformation of the subjacent parts. Thirdly, the scull covering these organs is itself covered with hair, so that any examination of them is thus rendered still more difficult. Fourthly, the dress of most nations presents an additional obstacle. The greatest error of the doctrine of Gall is the supposition that for every propensity, sentiment, or intellectual faculty, distinct organs exist, and the assigning consequently a multitude of simple and distinct organs, for functions which owe their existence to a combination of others. There doubtless exist organs of observing, comparing, determining, willing, &c.; and if Gall had determined these, and then endeavoured from them to reason respecting their combinations in the individual propensities, sentiments, &c. to which they give birth, he would more nearly have approached the truth. The great and simple organs he would have found in the curious and beautiful structure of the more internal parts of the brain. To every observer, these at once seem to present distinct organs, though certainly not of the particular kind to which Gall alludes; while the hemispheres appear rather to constitute one organ, which is connected with a number of others probably that of memory, connected with so many of the intellectual functions; and, on this fact, the sole worth of the doctrine may rest, - |