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driven to a preternatural energy of action. The heavy drafts they are compelled to make for this and other purposes, soon exhaust their resources; and, upon the exhaustion of those resources, they must necessarily cease from their labours. Reason strikes its flag. The directing power is removed. The propensities, unrestrained by it, instantaneously rush into a state of unmitigated action, and the inevitable results you will find recorded in the annals of drunkenness, and on the catalogue of crime."— P. 89, 90.

In treating of the organ of Colouring, the author notices, that it is largely developed in the Oriental nations, such as the Persians and Chinese. "This fact," says he, " has been observed, but it has not that I am aware of, been further remarked, that it is in the east that Nature has bestowed her strength, and beauty, and variety of colours. The tint of its sky-the hue of its landscape-the beauty of its bird and its blossom-even the gay attire of the insect that sports away life in the beams of its summer sun,-all announce, in language too clear for contradiction, that Nature has selected the land of the east to leave there the loveliest hues of her pencil. Is the striking coincidence between the full development of this faculty in the east, and the ample bestowment of that with which it is in relation there, one of those stray events that has accidentally wandered from the fountain of light, and found its way to this earth uncalled for and uncaused, or it is one of those beauteous harmonies, arising from the mutual adaptation of things, that, together with every other of the same kind, was originally cast in the grand scheme of creation?" -P. 165-6. We do not know that sufficient observations have been made to prove that a large development of the organ of Colouring prevails among the inhabitants of climates where vegetation displays much gorgeousness and beauty of colour. The supposition, however, has much probability, and is supported by the converse fact, noticed in our eighth volume, p. 68, that in the skulls of the Esquimaux, who see almost nothing but the sky, and snow, and ice, the organ is manifestly deficient. The subject is curious, and merits farther investigation.

Mr Dean is, for the most part, correct in his statements of phrenological doctrines; but it is necessary to point out several passages in which we conceive he has fallen into error.

Speaking of the faculty of Weight, he says, "This faculty, like all the others, is weak in infancy; hence the inability of the infant to walk, or to preserve a perfectly erect attitude. In advanced life also, when age has seared the faculties, this is a sufferer in common with others, and, from its weakness, gives rise to the uncertain totter of the feeble frame."-P. 159. Are not these effects to be ascribed rather to muscular debility than to

impairment of the organ of Weight? At all events, the former is undoubtedly one cause.

He says, that "where Destructiveness is coupled with Benevolence, its active manifestations are neutralized, so far as regards living beings."-P. 94. This is an inaccurate statement. Benevolence never neutralizes Destructiveness, but only restrains and directs it. Nay, it even has occasionally the effect of rousing Destructiveness to action against living beings. When the benevolent man sees a villain maltreating the destitute and helpless, he instantly experiences a strong inclination to “break the jaws of the wicked”. an inclination which arises from Destructiveness alone. An example will be found at the 68th page of this volume of our Journal.

Mr Dean's mode of comparing the development of the reflec tive organs with that of the perceptive, is somewhat objectionable. He imagines a plane, passing through the pupil of the eye and the axis or line connecting the two openings of the ear, to be intersected by another plane "passing from the surface of the reflecting faculties," or, as we should have said, organs. The angle formed at the point of intersection of the two planes will indicate, he says, "the comparative development of those two classes of faculties. The larger the angle, the more will the reflecting faculties preponderate over the perceptive and knowing. The more acute the angle, the greater the comparative strength of the perceptive and knowing over those of the reflecting."P. 219. Now, this way of measuring applies only to the organs in the middle line of the forehead, and is moreover defective inasmuch as it overlooks the relative breadth of the superior and inferior regions.

With respect to the temperaments, Mr Dean falls into the old error of ascribing to them the determination of character. This blunder is certainly not a little surprising in a writer so well acquainted with Phrenology as Mr Dean. "The individual possessing the sanguine temperament," says he, " is ever of a disposition the most happy. Gay, lively, and mirthful, he possesses much buoyancy of temper, and an elasticity of spirit, that reverses may bend but cannot break. He is ever a welcome companion, and enlivens the circle in which he moves. He is inclined to the softer passions; and the net woven by love finds him an easy victim. He is well calculated to tumble about on the rough side of the world, without being subdued and overcome by its asperities."-P. 229. Again, "If the sanguine temperament inclines to love, the bilious inclines not less to ambition. Venus cannot find in the bilious temperament an Adonis, but ambition has found a Napoleon. It is the individuals of this temperament that overcome opposition by patient endurance, and determined perseverance. They are characterized by inflexibility

of purpose, unyielding tenacity of opinions, and steady, uniform, determined adherence in the use of means once employed. A wrong treasured up by them breathes in the atmosphere of vengeance until it can wreak the ruin it meditates. It is the individual possessing this temperament that stamps a people with the impress of his own mind, and then leaves a name behind him to float down to after ages."-P. 230. Now, it is shewn by daily experience, that there is no fixed and constant proportion between temperaments and particular dispositions. The activity and energy of the mind are materially affected by temperament; but every particular bias of disposition or talent is determined by the form of the brain. There are melancholy and frigid people of the sanguine temperament, and fickle and placable of the bilious. Mr Dean knows all this so well, that we are tempted to suspect that the sentences just quoted have been thrust into the volume by some officious friend.

From the present work, and what Mr Dean has formerly written on Phrenology, we derive the confident expectation that he will prove an able, useful, eloquent, unflinching and effective advocate of our science in the United States.

ARTICLE IH.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FACILITATING AND EXTENDING THE STUDY OF MENTAL DERANGEMENT, AND IMPROVING THE TREATMENT OF THE INSANE. By Mr JAMES FOULIS DUNCAN, A. B., Dublin.

THE treatment of the insane is a branch of medical science which has hitherto been very inadequately studied and taught in the universities and schools of the United Kingdom; and, as a natural consequence, it has in practice been usually followed by a signal want of success. There is reason to hope, that before the lapse of many years, the subject may attract that degree of attention to which its undeniable importance renders it entitled; and with the view of in some measure promoting, by agitation, the change so much to be desired, I am induced to submit to the medical profession-its younger members in particular-a few hints on the study of mental derange ment, and on some improvements of which the treatment of the insane appears to be susceptible.

First, I would recommend that the Lunatic Asylums for the poor should be thrown open, under judicious restrictions, for the attendance of a limited class of students. The city of Dublin is provided with two large and well conducted esta

blishments of the description alluded to,* in which are to be found, I doubt not, many interesting examples of every form of insanity; and medical students, if permitted to visit them, and there observe the symptoms and progress of such cases, would evidently be better qualified than they are at present, to give opinions in courts of law as to the sanity of individuals, and to superintend the management of cases when entrusted to their care. Yet, it is equally evident that certain restrictions should be imposed, to confine this privilege to persons qualified to derive advantage from it, and careful not to abuse it; for it would be hurtful to many of the patients to be visited by an indiscriminate number of thoughtless young men, who would perhaps feel no regard for the peculiar nature of the patient's malady, and exercise no control over their own conduct and conversation; for even a single word, a silent action, or a passing look, might be erroneously attributed to improper motives, and, by disturbing the tranquillity of the patients, be productive of much injury. I need scarcely observe how often in these cases, offence has been taken where none was meant, and how frequently the best intentioned, and perhaps most ingenious efforts to please, have failed to produce the wished for effect. Merely to accost some patients, to cough in their hearing, even though not in sight, or to perform any other unmeaning action, whereto their disordered mind may have attached some peculiar importance or unkind intention, is occasionally quite sufficient to irritate their feelings, and excite that unhealthy action in the diseased organ, which is so prejudicial to their recovery. Now, as these asylums were originally intended for the recovery and relief of the unhappy sufferers, it would be worse than useless to sacrifice their utility as places of refuge, to the vain hope of making them nurseries of science. I say vain, because if either the number or injudicious remarks of the students were permitted to disturb the tranquillity of the patients, no treatment could be expected to succeed. For, as in mere injuries of the body, rest has been found to be more conducive to recovery than the exhibition of medicines, so, in this class of diseases likewise, it is absolutely indispensable; and, it is extremely probable, that this necessary rest would be interrupted by the questions which a young student would propose to the patients, in his anxiety to avail himself of the advantages afforded by his attendance at the lunatic asylum. I am therefore of opinion, that it would be infinitely preferable to have these institutions closed against the admission of stu

* St Patrick's Asylum, founded by the celebrated Dean Swift, and the Richmond Asylum, which affords accommodation to 300 patients. Incurable lunatics and idiots are likewise accommodated at the House of Industry. I am not quite certain of the numbers admitted there, or at St Patrick's Asylum; but they are considerable.

dents, rather than permit the feelings of the patients to be outraged, and their recovery retarded, in the manner just described. But if there can be found amongst medical studentsas I believe there can some ardently desirous of obtaining information upon every subject connected with their profession, anxious to relieve the sufferings of their fellow-creatures, and willing to submit to every wholesome restriction, which the governors, medical and moral, may think fit to impose, then I am satisfied, that the doors of these institutions may be thrown open to such students, without injury to the patients, and with advantage to science.

I need scarcely, upon this point, make any allusion to the private establishments which accommodate the richer classes of society, and which, from a due regard to the feelings of relatives, must be closed against intrusion; for, even though accessible, they would afford the student such very inferior opportunities to pursue his investigations, that it is a matter of much greater professional importance to endeavour to obtain access to those larger asylums where attendance would be really an advantage.

My second suggestion is, that lectures upon insanity, and the matters connected with it, should be instituted in our various professional colleges and schools. Although few cities in the world are supplied with a greater number, or a higher order, of teachers of the various branches of medical science than Dublin, we have to lament that this array of talent and industry is too exclusively directed to lower and less important diseases than those which affect the human mind. In illustration of this, I may state that an eminent professor of the practice of physic, when compelled by want of time to omit a portion of his course, selected this very class of diseases as that which could be most safely discarded. Perhaps he acted more judiciously in not entering upon the subject at all, than he would have done had he glanced at it in the superficial and obscure manner in which it is usually alluded to; and I cannot help remarking here, that as, in ordinary cases, clinical lectures convey more practical information to the student than any others, so probably the best lectures which could be instituted upon insanity would be those which refer to actual cases, and illustrate at once the degree of disease, and the details of treatment. It is greatly to be wished that the medical profession of the British islands may direct their attention to this subject, with the view I have just hinted at. Other countries have already set us the example, and our continental brethren bear away the uncontested prize: but I venture to assert, that our resources in this department of medical investigation are not inferior to theirs, if we but knew how to use them; nor is there so little

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