HUMAN PHYSIOGNOMY. 11 and of a cold and moist quality, to be apt to conceive, and ready to discern, of the contrary cause. The science of Physiognomy, since the time of Lavater, has been advantageously cultivated by several eminent persons. But the grandest and most important discovery that ever can be made was that of Gall in presenting us with what is now called Phrenology,—a gift more valuable to the species than would be the fabled philosopher’s stone. Corporeal Physiognomy is based on the influence which the body has over the mind, on account of the mind acting through a corporeal organ—the Brain —which is largely influenced by the rest of the body, and subject to the same physiological laws of action. To comprehend aright all the principles of Physiognomy, we must be Well acquainted with the human mind, and with the structure and offices of the several members of the human frame ; for the very essence of Corporeal Physiognomy depends upon the relative developement of the component parts of the body as existing in different individuals. The most comprehensive and lucid division of the organs and functions of the human fabric, is into the three classes—locomotive, vital, and mental. The first, or locomotive class, includes the bones, which are the mechanical instruments of motion ; the muscles, which are the agents of motion; and the tendons and ligaments, which unite the two. The second class, or vital, consists of tubes or vessels of different kinds, such as the absorbing, the secreting, and the circulating blood-vessels,—in short, of those organs which immediately nutrify and support the body. The third class, or mental, comprises the organs of the external senses, the cluster of mental organs which compose the bruin,—and the nerves, which connect these, and perform all the functions of sensibility. Now, the fundamental principle of Corporeal Physiognomy, founded on physiology, is, that as one or the other of the above three classes of organs predominates in the system, so will a tendency to its peculiar functions be manifested. And as far as this influences the action of the mental organs, from these organs being part of the same frame, so far can we judge, from this predominance, respecting the character or quality of the mental manifestations;—but not as some suppose of the quantity or the peculiar faculties of the mind. The prevalence of either of these classes of organs is generally known by the term temperament, which is the key to Corporeal Physiognomy. There are of course various species of temperaments, and these were observed and admirably described, though erroneously explained, by some of the most •ncieut physicians and philosophers. They arc now so univer
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