Newspaper Page Text
TBS WABBXIT6TOirXAirt
Vol. I.]
PHRENOLOGY versus INTEMPERANCE.
s4p-, Vs'. «U 17 V
Asy An\* % \ "A*—■ V^%>v
/ \ /-'irv 'TT2r !•».#%
/\\\ iv * Vr-^A\
A) / |
f|>/ N Seciu'- > ( ?\, ffl\ S’
I KfAp
PHRENOLOGY VCrSUS INTEMPERANCE. j
A LECTURE OX TEMPERANCE, ,
Considered Physiologically and Phrenologically,
or the Laws Qj Life and the principles of the j
human constitution, as derelo/.'ed by the i
sciences of Phrenology and Phy
siology, 4'-c. ipc.
BY O. S. FOOLER, A. 8.,
PRACTICAL PHRENOLOGIST.
I* presenting this subject, I shall first briefly
explain some ofthose laws which govern the in-'
fluences of the body upon the mind, and of the
nrind upon the bo.ly, showing what <-or«bti*n* ni
ufther induce and causbthose of the other; sec
ondly, point out the consequences or penalties at
tached to the violation of these laws; and, third
ly, show the effects of intoxicating drinks, of
every kind and degree, upon the physical and
thereby upon the mental economy, violating these
laws and thus inducing their penalties, first by
powerfully st'muluting the body, and thereby the
merely animal nature of man, and also weaken
ing his moral and intellectual powers ; and, sec
ondly, by shortening human life.
Independently of its application to temperance,*
its physiological and phrenological facts and prin
ciples will be found eminently interesting andj
valuable to all classes.
PROPOSITION I.— There exists reciprocal
relations between the conditions of the body and\
the states es the mind , each, influencing and being
influenced by tkat if the other.
For aught we know, man might have been
created a purely spiritual entity, without a body,
but the great ends of our existence arc evidently!
better secured by our natures being compounded
Hence we arc composed of mind and body soj
closely united by the reciprocal action of certain'
* physiological and phrenological la>#s, that the |
conditions of each have a perfectly reciprocal and
powerful influence upon the states of the other,
each throwing the other into its corresponding,
state. Hence a clear, cold morning, a heavy,
muggy atinostphere, oppressive heat, &c\, ver
differently affects the mind by throwing the body\
into different states. A high fever increases the j
mental manifestations and auguments the feelings
whilst hunger, fatigue, and every enfeebled state
of the body proportionality weaken them. Dys
pepsia induces irritability, peevishness, gloom,
and a most wretched state of mind and feeling,
totally reversing their character, and changing
the friend into tne misanthrope, the blessings of
hope into the bitterness of despair, and the hap
py man into a most miser able being. Physical
inaction induces mental sluggishness, whilst a
due degree ot exercise or labor clears the mental '
horizon of those clouds with which confinement !
or slothfulness envelopes it, producing a delight
ful flow of thought and feeling. Food and sleep,!
or the want of them, powerfully and very offer-i
ently affect the states of the intellect and feelings,!
•whilst a sufficient dose of arsenic or laudanum
.extinguishes both for this world. Sickness en
feebles and health strengthens the mind; and
most of our constantly occurring changes of feel
ing ami mental action are attributable to the
.causes involved in this proposition, fame of our
ablest speakers and writers of all classes have
learned by experience to practice abstinence pre
paratory to their most powerful efforts. Certain
kinds of food excite some of the animal passions
whilst others increases our desire and ability to I
think and study. The inspired Paul embodies
this doctrine in the text, “ 1 beseech you, there
fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye pre-
TOTAL ABSTINENCE ADVOCATE.
AUGUSTA, GA. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1843.
sent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, arcepta- ,
hie onto God,’’ implying that the proper condi
tion of the body induces a holy state ofthenpnd.
whilst an inflamed or impure body kindles the
animal passions As soon may we expect the
sun to stand still, or the water to run upwards,
as that the pious Christian will “ be elolluyl with
the spirit’’ or he borne upwards upon the Wings of
devotion, or the profound thinker or (he learned
student of nature be able to bring all his mental
[energies into full and efficient action, when he j
I has overloaded Ins digestive apparatus, or induced
a severe cold or fiwer, or in any other way clog-i
ged or disordered his bodily functions. A sound
■ii.infHrr* sound hotly” not only bcowsitolly an.l f
forcibly expresses the sentiment of this proposi
tion, but also embodies the experience of past [
ages and all nations. Both religion and talent j
depend more upon the conditions of the body, and
especially ofthr digestive apparatus, upon’what
we eat and drink, upon our physical habits, than
most good people are aware ot. Hence, fasting
promotes, piety, whilst “fullness of bread ” kind- j
lessinful desires. Insanity, which consis's in;
the derangement of the mind, is caused solely by
an inflamation of the brain.
In like manner also given states of mind throw
I the body into their corresponding states. Thus
bad news diminishes the appetite and impairs
digestion, whilst good news piomotcs both. En
couraging the sick generally improves their
health, whilst the loss ot property, ot friends, or of i
children, olten induces or aggravates disease.—-j
The derangement of the mind often doubles and
quadruples the physical strength. In short, as
well may one qu stion the evidence of his senses
|as to controvert this that both mind i
and body each powerfully and reciprocally affect j
the other. Each member of the human family
I daily and constantlyyeeA this truth.
PROPOftI 1 IOiN II. — These relations bet
\ ween body and mind are governed by certain iti
iV,ißlaßi,K laws of cause and effect, given condi
: lions of the one inducing and causing the corres-
I ponding stales of the other. The principle that
i whenever a part of a given class of phenomena
! are governed by laws of cause and effect, every
I phenomenon of that class is governed by these 1
same laws, is a universal principle of nature, and j
may be relied upon in every conceivable applica
tion. Are a part ofthe phenomena of vision gov
erned by the laws of optics, every phenomenon of,
vision, performed by man or brute since the crea
tion ot Adam, has been governed by the same 1
laws. Are a few bodily motions caused by inus- 1
cular contraction, alLue caused by the same con
traction. Should minions ot daggers he driven
into the hearts of as many human beings, they
i would in every instance separate mind and body.'
j Let any or every member of the human family,
j take opium or its compounds, and one and all will |
lexperience its effects. These illustrations-will!
apply equally to every law of nature. That some
of these relations existing between mind and
body are governed by laws of cause and effect, is i
selt-evidcnt. Therefore ail ar e equally so, anil
every condition of either throws the other into its
corresponding state. If in any cne instance a
given condition of either body or mind causes or
is caused by that of the other, then every state of!
either causes or is caused by the corresponding
conditions ol the other. Either there exist no re ;
lations of cause and effect between the two, or
else it is all cause and effect— all antecedent and
consequent, for nature always makes thorough
work or does nothing.
Hence, we can at any time throw either mind |
or body into any desired state by putting the oth ;
OR,
pt into its corresponding one, and we can no more
put either into any given state without thereby
lh to** In g tiie other into its corresponding one,
than we ran arrest the operation of any other law
ot nature. And since the brain is the instru
ment ot thought, and feeling, its conditions influ
ence tho mind more powerfully than those of all
the filler portions ofthe body united. Hence to
excite either faculty or organ is to excite the
other; and as the stomach and hrain arc intimate
ly related, its state also powerfully influences that
of the mind.
PROPOSITION lll. —Every law of nature
has a sure reward attached to its observance, and
a fearful penalty affixed to its violation. Had
there been no lixed laws of cause and effect,
things would have occurred without any regulari
ty or certainty. Stones Would then have been
liable to have produced jgrnin; wheat, animals;
the sun, darkness* anil tire sometimes one thing
and then anot her. Man could have relied upon
nothing—could have accomplished nothing. But
this institution of law has reduced chaos to a
most beautiful system of uniformity and certainty.
Yet without l penalty attached to violated laws,
and pleasure to their ohed'enee, they would have
been useless, because powerless. Hence a ben
evolent God has inseparably affixed happiness to
their obedience, and also misery to their violation.
Still farther. Hellas pro; otttoned the penalties
ofdisohediencc and the pleasures ofobediencc to
the importance ot the several laws. As life is the
greatest of all blessings, and as the violation of
the civ.il law which protects it is visited with the
heaviest of all penalities, and as the laws which
prated property or character are less important,
ail* their violation punished with less severity, so
those laws which obtain betwfecn mind and body,
being of the very highest ordet ..flaws, their ob
servance is productive ofthc purest, most exalted,
and most condensed of all enjoyments, whilst
tlicir violation plunges the disobedient into the
deepest misery, bccausethe miml is the one main
fountain from whieh springs most of our pains
Atui wJii*! i» *»ill morr, (hr en
joyment of violation follows in the direr* line of
the obedience or transgression. Each law lias its
own penalty and enjoyment attached to itself,
being its own executioner. To obey a law is to
enjoy the blessings secured by that law; to trans
gress it is to sutler its penalties. There can he
noescape, no evasion of either throughout God’s
vast domains. 1 These results are inevitable and
invariable. Infinite Benevolence has put obedi
ence with its blessings into our right hand, and
disobedience with its curses into our left, and en
dowed us with power to choose or refuse either.
All our pleasures flow from law obeyed, all our
pains from law violated. And as the observance
or violation of these laws depends mostly upon
each individual for himself, his happintse or mis
ery is mostly in his own keeping—the reward or
penalty of his own actions.
Inferences—A knowledge of those laws
which govern the influences of body upon mind
and mind upon body, is as much more important
tlian is a knowledge of the laws of mechanics or
natural philosophy, of chemistry or navigation,
of astronomy, or any other thing appertaining to
matter, as blind is superior to matter. And yet
man’s utter ignorance in relation to this subject,
is as deplorable as it is almost total. Every thing
else is studied and this neglected, yet this 'should
be fully understood, cvendt ‘the sacrifice of all
other knowledge.
These three propositions constitutes our base
lines, our starting points, our comer stones.
Who will “gainsay or resist them?’ They
stand unshaken and unmoved, being based upon
the immutable, invariable laws of nature.
PROPOSITION IV.— Balance of power
constitutes perfection, and with it that obedience to
lute which secures enjoyment; whilst both the ex
cessive and deficient action of any part constitu
tes imperfection , or that violation of law which
induces pain. First, in reference to the several
parts of the body. As an organized being, man
in composed of three principal classes of organs.
1. The vital temperament or nutritive apparatus,
namely, the heart, lungs, blood, digestive appa
ratus, &c. embracing the entire system of inside
organs, which manufacture vitality, furnish ani
mal vigor, and re-sqpply the brain, nerves and
muscles with that vital energy which their every
action compels them to ex|iend. 2. The motive
apparatus, embracing the bones, muscles, sinews,
tendons, &c., which constitute the frame work of
tiie system, give it its size and sha|ie, and produce
bodily motion, physical strength, &c., and 3.
The brain and nervous system, the exercise of
which produces thought, feeling, sensation, tal
ents, memory, &e. Nearly every form of physi
cal pain and disease is caused mainly by the de
ficient or excessive action of one or more of these
temperaments If carried ar, they hasten death,
hut when they are all well developed and equally
balanced, there will he an abundant supply of
vital energy to keep the animal economy in mo-
tion, a proportionate supply of physical strength,
love of exercise, and ability to labor, together with
lively sensibilities, intensity of feeling, and power
of thought, the result of which will be good health
long life, physical and mentH enjoyment in the
highest degree of which our nature is susceptible,
and a high order of natural talent. But on the
principle that an overloaded stomach withdraws
the strength from the brain and muscles, the pre
dominance or deficiency of either part tends to
increase the excess or defect, which augments
the evil, being the reverse of what should take
place. This exhausts the weaker temperaments
which go by the board, carrying health, happi
ness, and life along with them.
The best condition of body, the one most favor
able to true greatness and a genera! genius, to
balance and consistency of character, and to per
fection in every thing, is that in which each tem
perament is strongly marked, and all about equal
ly balanced. Is there too much of the motive,
there is power, yet but little action, so that the
talents lie dormant. Does the vital-motive great
ly predominate overthe mental, though there may
be physical power and enjoyment, there will be
too little mental, too much grossness, coarseness
and obtuseness of feeling, with too little of the
intellectual and too much of the animal. But
where the mental greatly preponderates, there will
lie too much minil for the body, too great sensi
tiveness, too much intensity of feeling, and that
too exquisite, too much sentimentalism and re
finement, with a tendency to precocity, which in
duces an early death.
These temperaments and their predominance
may he aptly compared to the several parts of a
steamboat. The vital is the wood, water, fire,
steam and engine, which produce the propelling
power; the motive is the hulk; the mental, the
freight and passengers. W hen the vital predom
inates, it manufactures more steam, more vital
energy, more impulse, more animality than the
brain, nerves, and niueles can work* off, which
produces an overflowing of feeling and passion, a
restlessness, a Jjigh pressure, and a liability to
explode.' The Hon has a prodigious chest, and
an amount us animal (tower almost beyond con
ception, with but a small brain. Hence with
scarcely a hundreth part of his strength, but with
well developed brain and nerves, man can accom
plish a thousand fold more. Does the osseous
and muscular system greatly predominate, there
is too much hulk; the person will move slowly
and feel hut little, enjoy and suffer only propor
tionally little, and if the mental is also weak, be
obtuse in intellect, a stranger to refinement and
intellectual enjoyment, and having but few pass
engers, the boat of life will be too light freighted
to be worth running, or to secure the great ends
of existence, namely, intellectual and moral en
joyment. But where the mental greatly predom
inates, the vessel is overladen, the energies of the
system are drawn from flic digestive apparatus
and muscles, and concentrated in the brain
which thus consumes the vital powers faster than
the vital organs can manufacture the re-supply.
This over-draught, whilst it greatly augments the
talents, also causes premature death. This prin
ciple, whilst it explains the cause of the prema
ture death of precocious children, cautions exces
sive parental fondness not to press them forward
in study, less by increasing the predominence of
the brain they thus hurry them into an early
grave. It is also illustrated by the ill health, tho
dyspepsia, the nervousness, head-ache, ennui, &c.
of our literary and sedentary classes, and by the
intellectual obtuseness jf those who neglect men
tal culture. Consumptive families are usually
slim-ftuilt and na.row chested, which indicate
weak vital organ • and very active brains. This
disproportion of parts hastens their death. Apo
plexy gout. &e. are caused by the opposite ex
treme, and if physicians would but restore the
lost balance between the temperaments, they
would save many patients whom they now lose.
If mankind in general would only keep these
temperaments equally balanced, if, when they
are becoming nervous, they would labor more
and think and feel less, when worn down with
labor, they would rest and read, when thev have
taken more food than exercise they woukTrcstore
the balance between the two, if, like Bonaparte
they would take the extreme opposite that which
caused their disorder—which is only applying
the principle we are presenting—a large portion
of those who now die young would live to be old.
The inference is plain and powerful that what
ever unduly excites or developes cither of these
classes of organs, proportionally induces disease
and hastens death.
Secondly. This same principle of balance,
when applied to the phrenological faculties, con
stitutes virtue, and their disproportionate action
predisposes to vice. The phrenological definition
of virtue is this, the proper and harmonious exer
cise of all the faculties upon their legitmate
objects, under the control of the moral sentiments.
On the other hand, vice consists in the excessive
[No. 18.