try by Dr Spurzheim. From the spirit of inquiry which characterized the members of the Royal Medical Society, he entertained hopes, that, at no distant period, that institution, besides fulfilling its grand object of sending able physicians to every part of the world, would at the same time send forth Phrenologists conversant with the true physiology of the brain, or, in other words, with the moral and intellectual nature of man. The difference in the present reception which Dr S. had received from the medical world in general, and from the Royal Medical Society in particular, from that which characterized his former visit, must have occurred to every one.

This change showed not only how false was the allegation, that all medical men were opposed to the science of Phrenology, but also that, in a certain sense, a Medical Society was, if not already become, at least not averse from becoming, a Phrenological one, whenever observation and reflection should lead them to the conviction that Phrenolo. 8Ꭹ

is true.

The evening was spent with great hilarity, and enlivened by several excellent songs. The dinner and wines were furnished in Mr Barry's usual style of taste, elegance, and comfort.

ARTICLE VII.

DR SPURZHEIM'S VISIT TO THE CITY OF EDINBURGH

LUNATIC ASYLUM.

On Thursday, 19th February, 1828, Dr. Spurzheim visited the City Lunatic Asylum, and the Hospital for the Children of Paupers, accompanied by Dr Hunter, the surgeon of the establishment, the Honourable Mr Hallyburton, Dr Combe, and some other gentlemen. A few particulars of this visit may not be unacceptable to the Society.

Dr Hunter, and some of the other gentlemen, who were

This was

not Phrenologists, expected that Dr Spurzheim would be able, from the mere examination of the heads of the patients in the Asylum, to predicate the precise kind of insanity under which they laboured. This, Dr S. stated, was not his object: He could not, a priori, determine the nature of the disease, but if informed of it, it would be found that the cerebral or ganization connected with the deranged faculties was generally largely developed.

After this explanation, a female patient was pointed out who was insane from jealousy of her husband. Her manifestations were attended with violence and rage. Dr S. pointed out the great size of the lower part of the middle lobe of the brain in the region of Destructiveness. strikingly apparent. Another woman saw ghosts and spectres. In her the organ of Wonder or Marvellousness was remarkably developed. Dr S. asked her if she ever complained of a headache ; she answered she did; and being requested to put her hand on that part of the head where she felt the pain, she did so on the very spot where the above organ is situated. This individual had also Cautiousness considerably developed, and Wit, or Gaiety, small. Her prevailing feelings were those of a depressing kind; and these she expressed on this occasion.

A female who sat opposite to her was a perfect contrast. She was always smiling, and her feelings were gay and lively, and her development was in precise accordance. In her the organ of Gaiety was very large.

In a female idiot, the propensity to destroy was great and incurable. Destructiveness was largely developed.

Among the male patients was an individual who had made repeated attempts to destroy himself. Dr S. remarked, that in all such individuals, however the brain might otherwise be developed, it was almost invariably found that the organ of Hope was small, and such it was in this patient

A young man had become insane from circumstances of a domestic nature, which had wounded his social feelings. He

was asked if he felt pain in any part of his head. He immediately put his hand on the back part of his head, and on the region where Adhesiveness and the domestic feelings are situated.

There were several other cases, which Dr S. stated would have been to him highly interesting if he could have known something of their previous history. Their development was of a very superior order.

The Children's Hospital was next visited. The mistress was requested to bring two or three of the best and worst behaved boys and girls; but without, of course, informing Dr S. of their manifestations. She was also requested to bring some of the cleanest and most orderly, and those whose characters were of an opposite description. The children were then ranged in order, and, without the least difficulty, Dr S. determined at once which were their respective manifestations. The discrimination, however, evinced by Dr S. was still more minute. The mistress had selected three girls as being the best behaved in the Hospital ; Dr S. not only fixed upon them as being the best, compared to those with whom they were contrasted, but remarked, that of the three, their mistress would find more difficulty in managing one of them than the other two. This, upon inquiry, was found perfectly correct. Dr S.'s information was drawn from this girl having Firmness largely developed.

The curiosity of the children having been excited by this visit and the object of it, they followed the gentlemen as they retired. Dr S., whose affectionate attachment to children is very remarkable, gathered them round him, and took occasion to remark the very great contrast exhibited by the heads of those children whose parents are in general of the very lowest ranks of life, as compared with the heads of the children of the higher classes, and attending such schools as the Circus Place and others. Though here and there was an exception, the heads were in general villanously low,narrow in the frontal and sincipital regions. Let any one

try, said Dr S., by education, if the mind at birth is a sheet of blank paper, to make Bacons and Newtons of such chil dren.

It is unnecessary to draw any inferences from the phrenological facts pointed out by Dr S. on this occasion. They, are not sufficient of themselves to establish the truth of the science, nor are they stated with this view, but they furnish additional evidence to those who have previously observed nature, and they impressed all who witnessed them with the rapidity and correctness evinced by Dr S. in observing different developments of brain.

ARTICLE VII.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE PHRENOLOGICAL SOCIETY,

C

EDINBURGH.

November 15, 1827. Mr Lyon read a letter from Dr Wright, giving an account of the 16 casts presented by the London: Society to the Edinburgh Society. The following donations were presented :-viz. 16 casts by the London Phrenological Society; 1 ditto by the Hull Society, with an account of the individual, by Mr George Combe; Swiss skull, from M. Frederick 'Meyer, Zurich, sent to Dr A Combe; tattooed head from Australia, by James Hay, Esq., Leith; one skull and one head of mummy from Thebes, two remarkable skulls from India, by Dr John Scott; cast of the idiot Robert Auld; skull from Kirk-Alloway, Ayrshire, by Mr Robert Ainslie. Mr Simpson read an essay on physiognomy, by Mr J. L. Levison, a member of the Phrenological Society, Hull. Mr Combe moved, that the best thanks of the Society should be returned to Mr Levison for his interesting communication, and solicit a continuance of them, which was unanimously agreed to. Mr Lyon read

VOL. V.-No XVII.

K

an account of Peter Nielsen, murderer, by Dr Otto, Copenhagen. The thanks of the Society were voted to Dr Otto

for this paper.

a

November 29, 1827.-At a general meeting of the Society, the following gentlemen were unanimously elected of-' fice-bearers for the present session :--viz. Dr Andrew Combe, President.--Mr James Simpson, Mr William Waddell, Mr William Ritchie, Mr James Law, Vice-Presidents.--Mr: George Combe, Mr M. N. Macdonald, Mr William Bonar, Mr James Tod, Mr George Lyon, Dr R. Hamilton, Couna cillors,_and Mr William Scott, Secretary.

November 29, 1827.-Ordinary Meeting.–Dr Andrew Combe read an extract from a letter to him, about Dr Gall, from Dr Fossati, Paris. He likewise read an Essay, being an Inquiry into the Mental Condition of several Individuals recently tried at Paris and other Places for Parricide, Murder, and Fire-raising. The Society's thanks were voted to Dr Combe for this essay. The following donations were presented : viz. Skull of ourang-outang, by Sir G. S. Mackenzie, Bart. Discours prononcé le 14. Janvier 1827, á l'ouverture d'un

cours de Phrenologie, par C. Fossati, M.D., by the Au

thor. Three Numbers of the Danish Phrenological Journal, by

Dr Otto. Cast of the skull of Caystono Arragoniz, a native of Old

Spain, presented by the Phrenological Society, Belfast,

with an account of him by Mr M‘Gee. Applications for the admission of Mr James Crease, mer. chant, Edinburgh, and Mr Thomas Urquhart, merchant, Edinburgh, as ordinary members, and for the admission of Dr C. Fossati, Paris, as a corresponding member, were read.

December 13, 1827.-Mr Simpson read an Essay, being Phrenological Observations on the Mottos of Armorial Bearings. The Society's thanks were voted to Mr Simpson. An