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THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE SCIENCES
ANATOMY  AND PHYSIOLOGY
A BRANCH OF GENERAL EDUCATION;
BEING AN INTRODUCTION
A COURSE OF LECTURES
THE UPPER CLASSES IN BROWN UNIVERSITY.
BY USHER PARSONS,- M. D.
         CAMBRIDGE.




PRINTED BY HILLIARD AND METCALt
I82G. 
V
"PS7U




  6,1 
Gentlemen,
       In commencing  a course of public lectures, it has
been customary  to  offer some remarks  on the nature and
importance of the science to be lectured upon ; and in treating
of anatomy and  physiology, such  remarks have usually been
confined to the consideration of the value of these sciences to
the practitioner of physick and surgery.   I shall deviate from
this course,  on  the present occasion,  by indicating some of
the ^vantages of  anatomy and physiology, as a branch of
o-eneral  education.  Previous  to  which we will briefly con-
sider the nature and progress of these sciences, and the diffi-
culties that usually attend the study of them. 
 
INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE.
  Anatomy teaches the structure of organized sub-
stances, whether animal or vegetable.   Physiology
comprises  a  knowledge  of their  functions and
modes of action.   Commonly,  however, the two
terms are restricted in their  application  to animal
bodies, and in the  present course of lectures our
attention will  be confined  to the anatomy and
physiology  of  man;   though  I  shall, occasion-
ally, illustrate our subject, by comparisons drawn
between the  structure of the  human and  brute
species.
  You will be convinced of the value of such com-
parisons, when informed  of the amount of knowl-
edge  already  derived  from  this  source.   It has
been  justly inferred   from  the  writings  of the
Greeks and Romans, that they gathered nearly all
their ideas  of  the structure of the human frame
from comparative anatomy, since  an accurate de- 
6
scription of such animals, as  bear  the nearest re-
semblance  to man,  would be  equal to their best
systems  of human anatomy.   A  principal  cause
of their  resorting to  the bodies  of brutes for in-
formation,  was  the strong prejudice that existed
against human dissection ; for accustomed as they
were to look with satisfaction  and  delight on the
cruel  spectacles exhibited in  their  amphitheatres,
on dying gladiators, and men rent in pieces by
ferocious animals; yet, the body once  dead, they
regarded with  horror any violation  of its senseless
fabric with the  dissecting knife.   Nor were the
Egyptians void of this superstitious veneration for
the dead, as  their practice of embalming  proves;
and though we  might conclude  that  the  process
itself of  removing the large viscera  from their cav-
ities would afford  an  opportunity  for examining
them thoroughly, yet the fact was  far otherwise.
The person,  who performed this duty, was   from
the lowest ranks in  society, and   was regarded
with more detestation than a common executioner.
It is even stated in history that when the  work
was  done,  although in accordance  with the  cus-
toms of the  nation, and  in compliance with the
wishes of  relatives, "yet that the operator was
obliged to flee immediately from  the body, to es- 
7
cape being murdered upon the spot."  We look in
vain, therefore, to the records of antiquity, for cor-
rect notions of anatomy, and especially of the soft
and more perishable parts   With the solid frame
work of our bodies, they were much better  ac-
quainted.   The   slain  in  battle,  whose  bones
whitened the  ground   after the  more perishable
coverings were dissolved  and washed away, fur-
nished ample means of instruction, and enabled the
ancients to describe the human  skeleton with very
great accuracy ;  while the  blood-vessels, nerves,
and lacteals remained  undescribed and unknown,
with  any degree of precision,  till  within the last
two centuries.   What was known of the large vis-
cera, as before observed,  was  gathered from  the
examination of brutes, whose organs and  textures
were  named by the Greeks, and  the  names they
gave  have continued in use to this time.  But the
anatomy of brutes is not neglected at the present
day, although no longer relied on  for a knowledge
of the human  structure.   We  now resort to it for
light to direct us in physiological researches.  We
can, after destroying the  sensibility of an animal,
expose its thoracic and  abdominal viscera, while
their  irritability remains unextinguished, and  thus
gain a correct notion of the beatings of the heart, 
8
the vermicular  and peristaltic  motions of the  in-
testines, and  the  course of the chyle or nutriment
from these towards the  heart, which could not be
done in the human  body.   We are also enabled to
examine  in the brute that most interesting organ,
the eye,  at  an earlier period  after death, than
could be done with  the  human eye,  a circum-
stance of vast importance, in a part  so  delicate in
structure, and so  rapid  in its tendency  to change
and dissolution.
   Furthermore, by examining  any  one organ in
different species of animals, wre arrive at  a better
knowledge of the constitution  and  powers of  the
same organ  in  ourselves.  By comparing, for  in-
stance, a series of stomachs, as  those of the carniv-
orous with the herbivorous  tribes, we perceive  the
former to be  more simple in their form, for dissolv-
ing and digesting animal food,  and the latter more
complicated and  better suited  to the much slower
process of  digesting and   animalizing  vegetable
substances.   The feathered tribes exhibit, in this
organ,  a muscular strength  equal  to the task of
breaking down  and comminuting the hardest skins
and  shells.   By comparing the structure of each
kind of stomach  with  its  appropriate  food,  we
can  more readily determine what substances are 
9
most  likely to retard,  or accelerate, the  digestive
process in the  human stomach,  and  what food
is most suitable  for our sustenance.
  The  prejudice  against  human  dissection, to
which I have alluded, as having retarded the  pro-
gress of anatomy and  physiology in the enlighten-
ed nations of antiquity, appeared again at  the re-
vival  of letters,  and continues, to this day,  to  pre-
sent powerful obstacles to the general diffusion of
these sciences,  as  branches of general education.
There  was no  medical  school  in the  island of
Great Britain, or in any  part of the north of  Eu-
rope, where public demonstrations in anatomy were
given, prior to the  time of  the  immortal  Har-
vey ; and even this gentleman travelled from  En-
gland to  Aquapendente in Italy, to study his  pro-
fession, and while there, laid the foundation of his
brilliant discovery, the  circulation of  the blood.
But after a time,  the necessity of dissecting be-
came more apparent, especially to military surgeons,
and  gradually  wrought  a  spirit of toleration in
its favour, till it is now no longer regarded  with
horror by the well educated in Europe, provided
the tranquillity of relatives is not disturbed by ex-
humation.  Our own  country, being settled while
the prejudices  I speak of existed in great force,.
              2 
10
was slow in discarding  them.  The first regular
dissection and  demonstration of the  human body
in this country, my predecessor informs  me, took
place in Newport, under the  hands of  the late
venerable Dr.  Hunter, a gentleman of profound
erudition, both classical  and professional.   With
such  prejudices  against the  ordinary  mode  of
prosecuting  anatomical  investigations,  prejudices
which we are bound to respect, while, at the same
time, the cause of science  and humanity  pleads
loudly for dissections ;  I  humbly conceive it  to be
the duty of legislatures, while they  provide for the
punishment of those, who violate the sanctuary  of
the dead, to provide  also  for the  necessities  of
anatomists, by decreeing  to them the  bodies of all
persons executed, and of all criminals dying in pen-
itentiaries. This would be no more than a just for-
feiture from such persons for the benefit of that
community,  whom  their  crimes, while living, had
so often injured;  then  exhumation, at which every
feeling of the human heart revolts,  which is alike
odious to the enlightened  and the  ignorant—ex-
humation, with all the  horrors, which the imagina-
tion associates with its practice, would  cease for-
ever, the  public mind would be tranquillized, and
the principal  hindrance to  the successful study of
anatomy would be removed. 
11
   The prosecution of  this  science meets with
another obstacle  in the nature of the study.   It
requires no Hebrew lawgiver to impress our minds
with an aversion to touching animal substances,
and especially the human body, while in a state of
putrescence.  But with you, gentlemen, this diffi-
culty  can  have  no weight;  the study of  plates,
models, and preparations, together with demonstra-
tions  in  the  lecture  room,  is sufficient for your
purpose.
   The diffusion  of this science is limited also,
from an opinion, which is  but too prevalent, that,
when  the obstacles abovementioned are removed,
and the science is in our possession, it is  not worth
having ; or at least, not worth the trouble taken to
acquire it.  This,  if well founded,  must be pro-
nounced an obstacle hard  to overcome.  To ob-
viate it, however, and  show wherein anatomy and
physiology  may  be highly  beneficial, will be the
object of the remaining part of this lecture.
   In the first place, you will  find it very conven
ient, when  giving  a history of your disease to a
physician, to be able to call " things  by  their right
names."  Many  times,  it  is  difficult to resist  a
disposition  to smile at the descriptions  given  by
patients of what  they consider the seat and nature 
VI
of their complaints.   Palpable ignorance on such
subjects is calculated to diminish a  person's  re-
spectability, especially among strangers ;  and still
more so, if he be understood to have received a col-
lege education.   Besides this, all persons have more
or less interest  in knowing something of the struc-
ture of their bodies, to enable  them to guard
against those injuries, to which they are constantly
liable, from  accidents without, and disorders with-
in.   When  we know precisely  the  part affected,
when we  can determine the amount and sources
of danger,  we are  shielded against unnecessary
fear on the one hand, while, on  the other, we  are
duly awakened and  prepared to meet  any danger
that may exist.
   If our joints  are dislocated, we know the nature
and  extent  of  the  evil, and the  best  manner of
applying a  remedy,  and hence  are less likely to
fall into the hands of natural bone-setters.—Natu-
ral-bone-setters ! !—a term, that to one,  who  has
examined the structure  of joints, seems as great  a
burlesque on common sense, as it is on  the healing
art—a term, implying that some persons come  into
the world, possessed of a particular knowledge of
the joints, more perfect forsooth than can possibly
be acquired by repeated and close examination of 
13
them,  in a  dissecting-room.   I  am  not  lawyer
enough  to  know  the order  of transmitting  this
gift; whether the rights of  primogeniture are ob-
served, or whether, when  the line  becomes extinct,
it passes over to collateral branches of the family.
Nor am I sufficiently  versed in experimental phys-
iology, to know whether  the  faculty  may  not be
transferred from one person to  another by  inocu-
lation, or by tranfusing the blood  from the  gifted,
to the veins of  another person, or be  ingrafted on
him by some  nice operation of
           " The Taliacotian science, which
           " Makes supplemental nose from breech." *
   Sir  Astley   Cooper, however, well  observes,
that  bone-dislocators  is  quite as  appropriate   a
term,  as bone-setters.  That  these  magical  pre-
tenders sometimes  replace  luxated  bones is ad-
mitted, but  that  they enjoy the  reputation of re-
placing many bones that  never were dislocated, is
equally true.   I was called  to an  aged lady, whose
shoulder had undergone  sundry  wrenchings  from
the hands of one of these magicians, who gave her
  *  Taliacotius was an Italian surgeon, who found out a way to
repair, or replace, lost and decayed noses, by slices  of integu-
ment taken from such parts of the body, as could best afford to
spare them. 
14
to understand, that he had replaced two or three of
the bones, and was  in hopes of soon adjusting the
remainder!
   Why are  there  no pretenders to extraordinary
gifts in other mechanical arts ? for such is the set-
ting of dislocated bones.   Why are there  no nat-
ural watch-makers, or  wheelwrights,—pretenders,
not to  superior  adroitness in the adjustment of the
several  parts of carriages, or  timepieces, acquired
by long practice in such kind of work, for this will
not answer to the  claims set up by natural  bone-
setters—why, I  ask, are there  no pretenders to a
mysterious, innate, hereditary skill, in the adjust-
ment  of the spokes of  a  carriage-wheel,  or  the
mechanism of a timepiece,  superior  to  what can
be gained by serving a regular apprenticeship  to
the business of making  and repairing those  ar-
ticles ?  The answer is  obvious.   Every person
knows, or can with facility  learn, what is required
to be done in the latter case, by  examining the
article, and he is able to judge of the best manner
of doing it.   And it is  hardly  necessary to add,
that a corresponding exemption from the decep-
tions of natural bone-setters, would accompany the
more  general extension of a  knowledge of the
frame-work of our bodies. 
15
    The  student of  mental philosophy must feel an
 interest in the sciences of anatomy and physiology.
 Although the visionary theory of Descartes, which
 maintained  that the  mind  is enthroned in the pi-
 neal gland, has long since been discarded, and the
 craniological doctrine of Gall and  Spurzheim, which
 places each  faculty and propensity of the mind in
 a distinct portion of  the  brain, will,  probably, in
 time, share  the same  fate; although  neither the
 crucible of the alchymist, nor the knife of the dis-
 sector, has  yet detected the vital agent, or the
 ligatures that tie body and  mind together, still we
 are not  without facts relating to their connexion
 and reciprocal influence, which are  highly interest-
 ing, if not important to be known.
   The physiological  system of Bichat,  which di-
 vides  the functions of our bodies into those per-
 taining to organic life, and  those which belong to
 animal life,  extends  also to  a  corresponding di-
 vision of the mind  into what belongs to the pas-
 sions,  and what pertains  to the  understanding
 A  summary exposition of  his doctrines  on this
 subject,  will  gain   your assent  to  this  position,
 while  you  cannot   avoid  being pleased with  his
 discriminating and comprehensive views;  " Physi-
ologically speaking,  we  have two  lives, both equal- 
16
ly  necessary  to  the  relations  we  maintain to
every  thing that  surrounds  us,  but  not  equally
necessary  to  our  simple  existence."   One  of
these lives  is called  organic, and comprises those
organs  concerned in  digestion,  absorption,  nu-
trition, growth, secretion, &c. and may be  termed,
indeed, the  life  of supply and waste,  which is
necessary not only to the existence of itself,  but
also to the existence of  animal life ;  the  other is
called  animal life,  and  consists  of those  organs
and functions, which connect us with  exterior  be-
ings ; as the organs of  sense,  of  locomotion,  and
the  voice.   These two  sets  of organs differ so
strikingly in their situation, structure, and mode of
action, as to remove  all difficulty in classing them,
and indicating their respective characters.
   In the first  place, those organs which are con-
cerned in animal life, are regular, symmetrical,  and
in pairs.  We  have two eyes, two ears, two upper
and two lower extremities; and  where an  organ
of sense is single, it may  be divided  into two sym-
metrical halves, as the tongue and  nose, which are
joined together at what is termed  the  median line,
a line marked in  several  places, as on the tongue,
on the upper lip, &c. and which serves as a dividing
line between the  organs  that  are  more distinctly 
17
in pairs.   The organs  thus placed  are  not only
double, symmetrical, and distinct, but those of one
side  can exist independently of  the other, as when
one half of  the body is paralyzed.
   On the other hand organic life is single :  " The
stomach is  single,  and placed in an  oblique direc-
tion  ; the liver is single, and placed  mostly on one
side, and all the other organs of this life are placed
without any reference to the median line."
   Again,  animal  life sleeps nearly  half  of every
twenty-four hours, while the functions of the organ-
ic life are  constantly going on ; they admit of no
interruption, no repose.  If respiration or the cir-
culation stop but for a moment,  life is destroyed.
   "  The  two  lives  differ  also  in  the mode  and
epoch of their origin.   The organic  is in activity
from the  time of conception.   The animal is first
brought into exercise  at birth,  when external ob-
jects offer to the new individual means of connex-
ion and relation.  In the foetal state, the  oeconomy
is solely occupied in the formation and  nutrition of
the organs ; this is  the preparative stage of exist-
ence.   The organs, which  are to perform  the func-
tions of the animal  life, are created and perfected,
but they are not exercised ; they are  not accessible
to the operation of the agents, whose excitement is
          3 
                       18
necessary to bring them into action, and, of course,
they remain in a state of profound repose, until the
stimulus, first of  the  air, and  afterwards of food,
light, and sounds, is applied  to the appropriate or-
gans.  At birth, then,  a great change takes  place
in the  physiological state of man.   His animal life
is first brought into existence, and  his organic life
becomes  more fully developed, and  more complica-
ted,  in  order to  accommodate  itself  to the  in-
creased  demands, which this change  necessarily
brings upon it.   But from this  moment, there is no
farther alteration or improvement in the  functions
of organic life.   They are as perfect in the  infant,
as in the adult;  they are not susceptible of educa-
tion.   But in those of animal  life, every thing de-
pends  upon the  education  they receive ;  at first
feeble, imperfect, and indistinct, they gradually be-
come developed, and  the  direction given  to this
developement, and the  character  which they ul-
timately  possess, depend in  a  great measure upon
the  influence exercised upon them by extrinsic
circumstances."
   Passing over  some  other characteristics  of the
animal and of the organic life, we  proceed  to  the
consideration of what is more to  the  point under
discussion,—the seat of the two lives.  The nerves 
19
 subservient  to  animal life, which receive external
 impressions, transmit the same  to the brain as to
 a common focus or centre ;—and the nerves which
 supply those muscles that are obedient to  the will,
 radiate from the brain as  from a common centre.
 Physiologists are therefore  agreed  in  considering
 the  brain, as the common centre  of  all  those func-
 tions that pertain to animal life.
   The organic  life  is connected   with  a  set of
 nerves distinct from the foregoing;—nerves,  which
 are very remotely and  slightly  connected  with the
 brain, and which are distributed  to those  organs in
 the  thorax and abdomen  that  are concerned in
 respiration, circulation,  digestion,  and secretion;
 whose actions, unlike  the organs of animal life, are
 not  under the  control of the  will.   Physiologists
 are  not  agreed  as to the precise situation of the
 centre or focus of these nerves.  Some have placed it
 in the ganglions, or knots of nerves, of which there are
 several, and  have called these  knots, small brains  ;
 others refer it to a plexus, or  network of nerves,
 near  the cardiac orifice of  the  stomach ;  nor is it
 indeed  certain that such a well  marked  focus  or
 centre does  exist,  as  in  the  other  life ;  we only
know that  the organic functions are  under the in-
fluence of  the  sympathetic nerves, and that these 
                       20
nerves are found  more abundant,  in  the form of
plexuses and ganglions,  in the region of the epigas-
trium, or pit of the stomach ;  from which circum-
stance,  as also  from that  of our  experiencing  a
peculiar sensation  in  this region, whenever the or-
ganic functions are disturbed by mental excitement,
Bichat gives this  part  the name of the epigastric
centre, or focus, of organic life.
  We may here pause for a moment to admire the
wisdom of the Creator, who,  in giving us a control
over those organs  that  admit of  improvement and
education, and which  for their full developement
and  perfection require to  be exercised, has in infi-
nite  goodness, placed  those of organic life—a mo-
mentary  interruption of  whose  action would de-
stroy us—beyond  our control or interference.  We
can  exercise  the  muscles of locomotion, and the
voice, as well as the understanding, in  any manner
we  please, while those parts  pertaining  to organic
life  are  without  our  control.   We  can  neither
make the heart pulsate faster nor slower, the circu-
 lating  fluids  move with increased  or diminished
 rapidity,  nor digestion hasten its  process, by any
 effort of  the  will; and although we might volunta-
 rily  resolve  entirely  to suspend   respiration  and
 taking nourishment,  yet the demand  of the  lungs 
21
for vital air, and  of the  stomach  for  its supply of
food, set up in the form of distress, are too imperi-
ous and  urgent to  be resisted, and  would, in most
instances, soon induce us to change our resolution.
Few,  it  is  believed, however intent on  suicide,
have been able to accomplish it by voluntarily with-
holding food from the stomach, and  none by stop-
ping the motions of respiration.
  This theory of Bichat, which divides the func-
tions of our  bodies  into  two classes, extends also,
as  before observed, to  the dividing of the  mind,
into what pertains  to the  passions and to the un-
derstanding.  Every thing pertaining to the under-
standing, as perception, reflection, memory, atten-
tion,   judgment,  imagination,  consciousness,  and
volition,  is the attribute of animal  life ; while the
passions, emotions, and affections,  as  love, grati-
tude,  joy, sadness,  hatred,  &c. belong to  organic
life, have their  seat in  its organs or in the epigas-
tric centre, and maintain  a reciprocal  influence
with them.  If we wish to express, by gesture, any
of  the  phenomena of  the intellect, relating,  for
instance,  to memory,   perception,  or judgment,
we carry the hand to the head, to the cerebral cen-
tre ; but if we would express love, joy, gratitude,
or sadness, we involuntarily place it upon the epi- 
>)
 gastric centre, or near the pit of  the stomach; and
 in various  emotions we experience peculiar  sensa-
 tions in this  part,  as of sinking, of trembling, of
 fulness, &c.   I may add that this  relation of  the
 understanding to animal life,  and  of the passions to
 organic life, is already admitted  by most persons,
 however ignorant they  may  be of  physiology.
 We  say a strong head,  a  well organized  head, a
 sound  head,  to  express  the  perfection of  the un-
 derstanding ;  a  blockhead,  a weak  head, an un-
 sound  head,  to  denote its imperfection ;   a  good
 heart,  a feeling heart, a tender  heart, to express
moral perfection;  and an unfeeling  heart,  a hard
 heart, or a bad heart, to denote moral imperfection ;
 and terms corresponding  to these, and  intended to
 convey the same meaning, are to  be found in  all
 languages.
  The relation which the passions bear  to animal
life is intermediate and not  direct.   Do  the eyes
 flash, the  brows become knit, the nostrils dilate,
 the teeth gnash, and  fingers  clench in  anger ;  we
 say that these phenomena proceed from a primary
 affection of the  heart, the force  of whose circula-
 tion  is  increased by this  passion  as  appears from
 the general turgidiu ss  of the blood-vessels,  and
the flushing of the cheek.  The  excitement of the 
23
animal organs abovementioned, follows, partly from
sympathy,  and  partly  from  a kind  of  instinctive
preparation for repelling,  or  avenging  an injury.
A counterpart  to the  above  picture, we know is
presented, when the primary affections or passions,
which influence the  action of the heart, are of an
opposite character, as those of fear and horror, which
debilitate  the heart  and  general circulation, and
cause paleness, a  kind of fallen state of features,
debility, a tremor of the limbs, and faltering of  the
voice.
     ----------------"Adam, soon as he heard
      The fatal trespass done by Eve, amaz'd,
      Astonied stood and blank, while horror chill
      Ran thro' his veins, and all his joints relaxed ;
      From his slack hand, the garland wreathed for Eve
      Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed;
      Speechless he stood and pale ! "----------------

   Although the  foregoing theory of life  has led to
no measures for  the actual and permanent improve-
ment of the mind, nor yet opened the way to  dis-
coveries very important to the  mental philosopher,
we are not  the  less sure, that it is  calculated to
suggest  valuable hints for  the preservation of its
sound and  healthy exercise.   Whatever stimulates
the  brain, exhilarates  the  spirits  for a  time,   and
leaves  a corresponding  torpor  to succeed^ when 
24
 this artificial excitement  has  subsided.   Such  is
 particularly the effect on the brain of the diffusible
 stimuli of  ardent spirit and opium, which are too
 often resorted  to by  poets, and  such as wish to
 enliven the imagination for some  extraordinary ex-
 ertion.  Even  febrile  excitement of the  brain  I
 have  known to  be accompanied with a rapidity in
 the current of ideas,  which  a moderate share of
 superstition would have attributed  to some supernat-
 ural agency.   In all these cases of increased activi-
 ty of mind, whether purely from disease, or from ar-
 tificial stimuli, there is a certain degree  of  mental
power borrowed, which must  be  afterwards com-
pensated by a state of torpor and stupidity.   We
might  as  well try to  extract more alcohol  from a
given quantity of materials by the application of
excessive  heat, that would  endanger  the retort, as
 to force the mind to more  effectual labour by ar-
 tificial stimuli;  and the  danger of destroying the
apparatus  by such a forced state of action, is alike
in both cases.
   A regular, free, and  persevering exercise of the
 intellectual faculties is however necessary to  their
 complete developement;  as much so, as  the ex-
ercise  of  the limbs, for  giving them muscularity
 and fulness  of  vigour.   It  is  from such exer- 
25
cise,  that man  derives  the arts and  sciences,  is
able to circumvent and  subdue  huge and  ferocious
animals,—to frame  laws, and  transmit them from
one generation to another, and, above all, to subdue
the passions to the dominion of reason.
     " 'T is the great art of life to manage well
     The restless mind.  Forever on pursuit
     Of knowledge bent, it starves the grosser powers :
     Quite unemployed, against its own repose
     It turns its fatal edge, and sharper pangs,
     Than what the body knows, embitter life."
   On  the other  hand, our moral happiness is inti-
mately  connected  with a  healthy and  vigorous
state of the  organs  of organic  life,  and with a
regular and appropriate exercise of the  passions
pertaining to  this life.   Every person has experi-
enced  the effect of  alimentary  obstructions on his
temper and disposition, and the tranquillizing effect
of a  cathartic.    The ancients believed that gloom
and melancholy  could  be carried off by purgatives,
and  attributed  the existence of these  affections to
atra bilis,  when they should  have attributed  this
colour  of the  bile to a  torpid  state of the organs
that secreted and conducted it from  the system,
allowing  it to  become stagnant, and  consequently
dark coloured.   With respect to the passions  them-
          4 
26
 selves, we know that they gain strength by frequent
 excitations,  and  according  as they  partake  of a
 good  or  bad character, render the subject of them
 happy  or miserable, and, if indulged in  to excess,
 finally  acquire  an ascendency over the animal life.
 They become the governing principle of the greater
 number of its  motions, " giving birth to actions to
 which the will  is almost a stranger, and which too
 often bring after them  bitter regrets, which are felt,
 the moment  animal  life resumes her empire."
     " Love without hope, and Hate without revenge,
     And Fear, and Jealousy, fatigue the soul,
     Engross the subtle ministers of life,
     And spoil the lab'ring functions of their share.
     Hence the lean gloom that Melancholy wears ;
     The lover's paleness; and the  sullen hue
     Of Envy, Jealousy ; the meagre state
     Of sore Revenge ; the canker'd body hence
     Betrays each fretful motion of the mind."
   "The  man  whose mind  is  best  constituted  is
he who preserves the two lives in a  state of  equi-
librium, in whom the cerebral  and  epigastric cen-
tres exercise an equal action, in whom the passions
animate,  warm, and  exalt  the intellect, without
seizing the reins."
   The  brain being the instrument  by which the
active  powers of the mind operate, or are in  some 
27
 way connected,  we  infer that the free exercise  of
 these powers tends not only to  strengthen them, but
 also (judging from  the  effect  of exercise on  other
 parts) to enlarge the organ itself;  and  indeed we
 find that the size of it is in a  great degree propor-
 tioned  to the developement  of its powers,  or  to
 the perfection  of  the  understanding.   The dis-
 covery  of this  fact  led physiologists to try sev-
 eral plans  for  measuring the size of the brain of
 man, and also of brutes.   The method adopted by
 Camper  is the most  simple, and serves very well
 for measuring the relative size of the brain of man
 and such animals as  approach nearest  to  him  in
 appearance.   It consists in drawing  a  line  along
 the  floor of  the nostrils and intersecting  it by
 another  that  touches  the forehead  and  the  ante-
 rior part of the upper jaw bone, which makes the
 sockets of the  front teeth.   The  angle included
 between  these  lines is  most  open, or approaches
 most nearly to  a right  angle  in the  human  sub-
ject.   It becomes constantly  more acute, as we
 descend  in the scale from man.
    The European adult  is  -    -    -  - %50
    The adult negro   -----__ 70
    Orang Outang    -    -    -   -   -   67
   Monkies  ------___  (55 
>\\
   Pug dog -........35
   Hare.......30
   The  invaluable remains  of Grecian art  show
that  the ancients were well  acquainted with  these
circumstances.   They were aware  that an  elevat-
ed facial line forms one of  the  grand characteris-
tics of beauty ;  and indicates a noble and  generous
nature.   Hence they  have extended  the facial an-
gle to 90 degrees,  in the representation of  men,
on whom they wished  to  bestow an  august  char-
acter.  And in the representations of their  gods
and  heroes, they have even  carried  it beyond a
right angle, and made it 100 degrees.
  It  would  gratify curiosity  could we  indicate a
measure of those nerves which constitute  the or-
ganic centre ;  resting, I mean, on  the supposition
that, like the centre of animal life, their size  is in
proportion to the developement of their power ; that
is, to the  degree of excitability and to the inten-
sity of the passions  seated  in them.   We should
then be able to determine  by actual admeasure-
ment the  moral and  intellectual character  of an
individual far better than can be done  by the sys-
tem of Gall or Lavater.
  Although the foregoing theory of Bichat respect-
ing the seat of  the understanding and passions, and 
29
particularly respecting  the  latter,  is not  fully ac-
ceded  to by many eminent physiologists,  nor full
credit given by all  to the position that the brain
corresponds in  size  to the strength and  improve-
ment of  the  intellect;  still  both doctrines  have
advocates enough to  render them a  subject of fre-
quent  and  interesting discussion  among  scientific
men; and how will  you be  able to take  a part in
these  discussions, or  even  to understand  them,
without a knowledge of those parts, whose struc-
ture and  qualities will be  often alluded to, unless
you acquaint  yourselves with  anatomy and  physi-
ology.
   I might  here show  you the relation of  our sub-
ject to  the natural history of  man, to the varieties,
that our  species  exhibits in  colour and  feature ;
and, considering this subject in connexion with that
of slavery, you must perceive that to a statesman
and philanthropist, a knowledge of what character-
izes each variety  must be valuable ; and  more es-
pecially so to such of you, as  aspire to a seat in
the legislative halls of the nation.  Even  now  the
voice of  a  slavery-advocating  senator* is  echoing
through the nation,  and should warn you to store
your minds with such truths  concerning  the struc-
* John Randolph in his speech on the Panama Mission. 
30
ture and nature of our species, as shall prepare you
to come forth as champions of liberty, and  to vin-
dicate  the cause of  suffering  Africans,  on whose
peculiarity of features  and  complexion some of
their masters would  fain establish a right to drag
them from home and kindred, and  doom them to
perpetual  slavery in far  distant regions.
   I might here speak of the relation of  anatomical
structure to human expression, and  show how im-
portant it is to the statuary  and  historical painter,
and to the connoisseur  in these  arts,  to study the
form and  situation of the muscles, which by their
varied  action, produce all the necessary and agree-
able variety of expression, observable in the human
countenance and gesture.   I  might advert  to the
information to be obtained on the subject of  optics,
by studying the formation of  the eye, and  to the
illustration it gives of the laws of vision.   I  might
expatiate on  the salutary tendency of  anatomy to
oppose the principles of infidelity, by the proofs
it every where  affords  of the  existence of  a final
cause  displayed  in  the manifestation of design,
 in the adaptation of the same organs  to the varied
 wants and circumstances of animals;—a subject so
 admirably treated in the excellent work of Dr. Paley,
 which you are about to commence reading.  I might 
31
dwell too on the delightful effects of this science on
the mind, in expanding our conceptions and exalting
our admiration of  the works  of the  Creator, pro-
claiming as it does at every step, that " in wisdom
he hath formed, and in goodness sustains us; " but
believing  enough  has already  been  advanced  to
convince  you that the general scholar  has an in-
terest in  the sciences of  anatomy and  physiology,
I shall leave these topics  for  further  consideration
during the course of lectures  upon which we  have
now entered. 
 
 
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