Utility of phrenology : a lecture / by L.N. Fowler.

  • Fowler, L. N. (Lorenzo Niles), 1811-1896.
Date:
Between 1873 and 1879?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Utility of phrenology : a lecture / by L.N. Fowler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    \ > 1 TILITY OF PHRENOLOOY. BY L. N. FOWB^B; OF NEW YOEK. It is not sufficient in this Utilitarian age to prove that Phrenology is true, but the query meets us at every hand—Suppose it be true, “ cui bono,'^ of what practical use is it to the community 1 I will endeavour to answer this legitimate query as clearly as pos¬ sible. Physiology and Phrenology are so intimately connected that we cannot present the claims of the latter without first considering those of the former. Physiology makes us acquainted with the laws of life and health. In order to obey these laws we must have a knowledge of them ; in fact, if we live in obedience to the dictates of nature we must know how to live. The mechanic understands this principle as applied to machinery. The more delicate its construction the greater is the necessity to know how to manage it; for, if neglected, it soon gets out of order. The same rule applies to human machinery. Man is a physical, living machine, made in accordance with certain principles, and governed by distinct laws. In proportion as these are understood and obeyed will there be health and happiness. This is seldom the case, anddhe result is that children are very frequently deranged in their constitutions. They have not only feeble vitality when young, which prevents that harmony between one part of the system and the whole, sufficient to produce perfection of organization, but their growth has been stunted by bad food, and the child that otherwise might have been distin¬ guished as a prominent individual in society will drag out a miser¬ able existence, in pain and sickness. We should know how to feed and keep the body full of life and vitality, to give every function it's due attention, to take sufficient exercise, so that the muscular system shall continue active while life lasts, should understand the nervous system 9