ARMY MEDICAL LIBRARY FOUNDED 1836 WASHINGTON, D.C. * / REMARKS ON THE INFLUENCE OF MENTAL CULTIVATION HEALTH. BY AMARIAH BRIGHAM. Is not that the best education which gives to the mind and to the body all the force, all the beauty, and all the perfection of which they are capable 1 plato. S' il est possible de perfectioimer I'espece humaine, c'est dans la medicine qu'ii faut en chercher les moyens. / descartks HARTF F. J. HUNTINGTON 1832. OBD.V^gfrR-, WM Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1832, BY F. J. HUNTINGTON, in the Clerk's office oi the District Court of Connecticut. PREFACE. The object of this work is to awaken public attention to the importance of making some modification in the method of educating children which now prevails in this country. It is intended to show the necessity of giving more attention to the health and growth of the body, and less to the cultivation of the mind, fhan is now given ; to teach that man, at every period of his existence, should be considered both as a spiritual and material being—as influenced both by physical and moral causes, and that * iherefore all plans for his improvement should be formed. ,iot from a partial view of his nature*, but from a knowl- edge of the laws of his moral, intellectual, and physical developement. The importance of Physical Education, or the perfect developement of the organization, appears in modern times to be nearly forgotten. This forgetfulness has. no doubt, been produced by modern discoveries, inven- tions and improvements in the mechanic arts, which have rendered the employment of the physical strength of man less necessary than it was in past ages, and pro- duced a general conviction that " knowledge alone is power." The invention of gun-powder, in particular, has contributed very greatly to this neglect of physical education. £50 little regard, however, is now paid to this subject, that the connexion between the mind and body iv PREFACE. is- by many entirely overlooked, and the necessity of well developed organs of the body for the manifestation of good mental powers, seems to be generally unknown. " Philosophy," says Dupaty, on seeing the magnificent Anatomical Museum at Florence, "Philosophy has been in the wrong, not to descend more deeply into physical man ; there it is that the moral man lies concealed." The people of the United States ought to become the most vigorous and powerful race of human beings, both in mind and body, that the world has ever known. Living in a climate which permits the fullest develope- ment of all the powers of human nature—enjoying en- tire freedom—possessing an abundant supply of the best nutriment, and of every thing necessary to promote the increase and healthy action of their physical powers, free from any of those influences which tend to repress the mental and physical improvement of the people of most other countries, they certainly ought to reach the highest perfection of which humanity is capable. But to effect this, all that is in human nature should be re- garded in education; the whole man should be im- proved. Not only should all his powers be developed, but they should be developed harmoniously and at the proper time. An improvement in female education has become very necessary in this country. It is lamentable, and in fact alarming, to find that the females of the United States, especially those in cities and those belonging to the most wealthy class, are in general more delicate and feeble PREFACB. V fa „ than those in several countries of Europe. From my own observation I am confident that a far greater pro- portion of the females seen in the cities of this country, are pale, slender, and apparently unhealthy, than of those seen in the large towns of England and France. The truth of this remark is abundantly confirmed by our own and foreign travellers. But there is no other country where females generally receive so early and so much intellectual culture; and where so little attention is paid to their physical education. Unless there is a re- form in this respect, the general feebleness of the females in this country will be increased. Besides, there is dan- ger of ultimately regarding extreme delicacy as requi- site to beauty, and thus a false and most dangerous error may be encouraged. No people will long hold a high rank among the nations of the earth, where such an opinion extensively prevails, apd where females are generally feeble and delicate. It is not, however, the object of this publication to lessen in the least degree, any judicious efforts to culti- vate the human mind. On the contrary, I wish to awaken a more general attention to this subject. But I would not have this attention confined to children, and to that age when the human system requires all its en- ergies to perfect the organization. Education should be made the business of life, and the multiphcation of books has now enabled every person to educate himself. I have endeavored also, in this work, to point out what I conceive is the most frequent cause of the ill VI PREFACE. health of literary men in this country; and to shew that only by carefully developing and judiciously exercising the organs of the body, and especially the brain, can mental labor be long performed with energy, without injury to the health. I hope also that my remarks may serve to awaken some attention to the study of human Anatomy and Physiology ; on whiclf*all plans of education ought to be founded. The general neglect of these sciences is one of the most extraordinary facts of the kind that this inquiring age presents. Not to know the composition of most inorganic substances, and not to understand the mechanism of the steam-boat or the spinning-jenny, is considered disgraceful, by men who live and die totally ignorant of the far more curious and wonderful mechan- ism which their own bodies present. This work is given to the public with the hope that it will be read with candor, and that the facts adduced, though presented in a very imperfect manner, will have their proper weight. If they do, I shall confidently ex- pect that it will prove of some service to the cause of education in this country. A. B. Hartford, Nov. 21st, 1832. CONTENTS. Influence of Mental Cultivation upon Health. General Observations. ..... 9 Section I. The brain the material organ by which the mental faculties are manifested. ... . . 13 Section II. Condition of the brain in early life—Effect of excitement and en- largement of the brain by disease, on the mind—Mental precocity usually a symptom of disease. . " . 29 Section III. Consequences which have resulted from inattention to the con- nexion between the mind and body—The best minds not cau- sed by early mental culture. .... 46 Section IV. Opinions of celebrated physicians respecting early mental cul- tivation—of Tissot---Hufeland---Spurzheim---Sinabaldi— Friedlander—Ratier-—Londe—Broussais—Johnson—North- Jackson, &c &c. .... 56 Section V. Influence of mental cultivation and.mental excitement, in produ- cing insanity and nervous affections. . . 69 Section VI. Remarks upon moral education—Influence of example. . 78 Section VII. Mental cultivation at "a proper time of life, not injurious, but bene- ficial to health. ..... 83 Section VIII. Influence of mental cultivation in producing dyspepsia—Irrita- tion of the brain the most frequent cause of this disease. . 92 Table, Exhibiting the age attained by some of the most distinguished literary persons in ancient and modern times. . Ill INFLUENCE OF MENTAL CULTIVATION UPON HEALTH. The influence which the exercise of the intellectual faculties, has upon the health, growth and proper deve- lopement of the body, is a subject of interesting inquiry to every rational being. The peculiarly intellectual character of the present age, the high mental excitement which pervades all classes of society, and of which the child partakes in its very infancy, render it more important now, than it has ever been before, for men, and particularly for the inha- bitants of the United States, to possess correct views upon this subject. In a country like this, where the Government and Institutions are of the most liberal character, where the highest honors and distinctions are put into one common market, and made the rewards of personal merit, men are constantly stimulated to mental industry. The accidental circumstances of fortune, parentage, or the favor of the great, have here but little control; the power to gain high and desirable stations is to be derived from knowledge ; and nobility and dig- nity of character belong only to those who possess enlarged and cultivated minds. 2 10 Hence we find, that by all classes of community, the culture of the mind is considered as the first and mosl important pursuit, especially for those in early life. The parent whose own education was but small, soon per- ceives its value, in the influence and power with which it rewards those around him who do possess it, and is willing to make great exertions to enable his children to acquire that knowledge which it was his misfortune never to obtain. Though he has never expected for himself any other station in society than that of a daily laborer in the field or the work-shop ; yet he aims to prepare his son for a different fortune, and aspires to place him among the most distinguished of the learned, or among the rulers of his country. Conscious thai without education such an elevation cannot be attained, he becomes earnestly desirous to witness the mental improvement of his child ; he watches over his infancy with intense anxiety, endeavoring to call forth and strengthen at an early period those powers of mind which will enable him in future years to sway and delight mankind. This prevalent eagerness for intellectual improvement in a republic like ours, leads to a constant search after new and sure methods by which the education of chil- dren may be promoted. Consequently we very fre- quently hear novel plans proposed for the earlier and more rapid developement of the infant mind, and see machines invented for accelerating the progress of babes in the acquisition of what is called " useful knowledge." Bookstores are filled with innumerable works of instruc- tion for children while in infancy, and parents, anxiously resort to every method which will enable their offspring to become prodigies in mental endowments, while in every other respect they remain weak and delicate infants. u When such feelings and opinions prevail extensively, respecting the importance of developing and cultivating the mental powers of young children to their full extent, it would not be surprising if, to accomplish that which is thought to be so desirable an object, some injudicious if not dangerous methods should be adopted ; and it be- comes important therefore to examine occasionally and see whether parents and teachers, in their great eager- ness to produce good results, are not sometimes too regardless of the injury which some of these methods may produce. Many physicians of great experience are of the opin- ion, that efforts to develope the minds of young children are very frequently injurious ; and from instances of disease in children which I have witnessed, I am forced to believe that the danger is indeed great, and that very often in attempting to call forth and cultivate the intel- lectual faculties of children before they are five or six or seven years of age, serious and lasting injury has been done both to the body and the mind. The danger arises from parents and teachers forgetting or disregard- ing this important fact, that, although the mind is im- material and indestructible, it is yet allied to a material body, upon the healthy state of which it is dependent for vigor and power. Of the nature or essence of mind we are ignorant ; we believe it is distinct from matter. We do know how- ever that it manifests itself solely by the aid of material organs, and that a well formed and healthy condition of these organs is as essential to correct and powerful mental action, as well developed and healthy lungs are for the performance of free and perfect respiration, or a sound state of the eye and the ear for seeing and hearing. In consequence of this intimate connexion 12 between the mind and body, we cannot doubt that mental labor calls into action some organ, and that, if continued for a great length of time, it will fatigue, and may injure this organ, and unfit it for its accustomed duties, just as too much excitement of the heart or stomach will injure these organs and derange the cir- culation and digestion. If these observations are true, (and that they are so I think can be abundantly proved,) every person will perceive, that in cultivating the mental powers of chil- dren, we should be less anxious to ascertain how rapidly and to how great an extent they may be developed, than how much the delicate organ or organs by which the mind acts may be excited without injury to the body or the mind. Very different views, I am aware, respecting the edu- cation of children, prevail in this country. In most schools, the importance of a sound body, and a well developed organization to the production of correct and long continued mental action has been overlooked; and both parents and teachers have chiefly labored to disco- ver the quickest methods of developing the minds of children, without once thinking that mental labor itself, could injure any part of the corporeal system. But in commencing the inquiry as to the influence which the cultivation of the mind has upon the health of the body, it will be necessary first to ascertain what part or organ of the human system is called into action by mental labor, and then to trace the effect which this labor has upon that part of the system, and upon other organs of the body, at different periods of life. SECTION I. THE BRAIN THE MATERIAL ORGAN BY WHICH THE MENTAL FACULTIES ARE MANIFESTED. Every part of the human system has undoubtedly been created for the performance of some action ; as the heart for the circulation of the blood, the eye for seeing, the ear for hearing, the nerves for sensation, the bones to sustain and the muscles to move the body. That action which nature intended a certain organ to perform cannot be executed by another organ ; the ear cannot supply the place of the eye, or the nerves perform the duties assigned to the muscles. The par- ticular action or duty assigned to several organs of the body we know by the evidence of our senses. We can see and feel the heart pulsate and the muscles contract. But as regards the action or function of other organs, we have not the same evidence. We do not see the action by which the liver secretes the bile, nor that by which the eye conveys to us a knowledge of outward things and of their different colors, &c. We do not know from the evidence of our senses, that any action at all is excited in these organs to produce such results; still we are confident that the liver does form the bile, and that the eye sees. So as regards mental action, we do not to be sure, witness it. We do never see the mind at work. So far as discovery depends upon our 2* 14 senses, the most profound thoughts of the philosopher, ur the finest conceptions of the poet, excite no part of the system of either. The mental operation which determined Caesar to pass the Rubicon, or Napoleon the heights of St. Bernard, could not be perceived to cause any particle of their bodies to move ; yet such facts do not force us to believe that the mind acts independently of the agency of matter. We do not doubt that the stomach is in action, when it separates from the nu- merous articles which compose an Epicurean's dinner, or from the coarse and simple fare of the Esquimaux, those particles and those only which are nutritious, and appropriates them to the support of the body ; although this action cannot be witnessed by us. Neither do we doubt the formation of bile from the blood in the liver, as has been hinted, or the operation of numerous other organs of the body, though we can derive no know- ledge concerning them through the senses ; they are just as mysterious to us as the manner in which the brain modifies thought by its action. The brain is one of the largest organs in the body, it is better supplied with blood than any other, and is better protected. These circumstances show that nature designed it to answer very important purposes ; and unless we allow it to be the organ by which mental operations are performed, there will be but little for it to do, and that little appear comparatively trifling. That it is however the " material organ of all the mental faculties, scarcely, at this period of science, requires to be proved."* To " discipline the mind," means, therefore, to call into regular and repeated action certain portions of the brain, and enable them to manifest easily and * Elements of Pathology, by Caleb Hillier Parry. 13 powerfully certain mental operations ; this process is just like that of exercising other organs of the body, thus giving them increased facility in the performance of their respective functions. There is much proof that the brain consists of a con- geries of organs, each of which, in a healthy state. manifests a particular faculty of the mind, and that the power of each faculty depends on the size of its appro- priate organ. I allude to these facts, however, only for the purpose of directing the inquiries of others to them. My present aim is simply to show that the brain, con- sidered as a whole, is the instrument by which the mind operates, and I hope to impress this fact fully upon the minds of all those who are engaged in the education of youth. Asa first proof, 1 will refer to that belief in the depen- dance of the mind upon a sound state of the body which is forced upon us by almost daily spectacles. We all see that severe blows upon the head are followed by an entire deprivation of intellect; sensation and volition are destroyed, while at the same time no part of the system is injured but the brain, and the functions of other organs go on as usual. When a person is thus by a blow or by a fall, deprived of his reason, the bystanders by an instinctive impulse look to the head to find the injury. No one ever supposes that an injury of the hand or foot will affect the mind and derange its operations, but all uniformly expect such a result when the brain is wounded ; and this general expectation is founded upon facts gathered from actual cases. Insanity furnishes further evidence that the brain is the organ by which the mind acts, for this is not a disease of the immaterial mind itself, but of the brain, resulting often from some injury. Such a diseased state 16 of the organ of the mind, of the very instrument of thought or of some part of it, deranges the intellectual faculties, just as a diseased state of the stomach deran- ges digestion. The immortal and immaterial mind, is, in itself, surely incapable of disease, of decay and de- rangement, but being allied to a material organ upon which it is entirely dependent for its manifestation upon earth, these manifestations must of course be suspended or disordered when this organ is diseased. If the mind could be deranged independent of any bodily disease, such a circumstance would tend to destroy the hope of its immortality which we gain from reason ; for that which is capable of disease and decay might die- Besides, it would be natural to expect that mere mental derangement might be cured by reasoning, by argu- ments and appeals to the understanding. But all attempts to restore the mind in this manner generally prove useless and are often injurious, since insane per- sons feel that their understandings are insulted when- ever opposition is made to their own hallucinations and to the evidence of their senses. It is fortunate for them that the true nature of mental derangement has of late been acknowledged in practice, and that in all attempts to benefit and cure this unfortunate class of beings, they have been assigned to the physician and treated for corporeal disease. The phrase derangement of mind, conveys an erro- neous idea ; for such derangement is only a symptom of disease of the head, and is not the primary affection. It is true, that moral and mental causes may produce insanity, but they produce it by first occasioning either functional or organic disease of the brain. On exa- mining the heads of those who die of insanity, some disease of the brain or its appendages is generally found. 17 I am aware of the statement by many writers that they have examined heads of the insane and found no trace of organic disease. But until late years, there has not usually been great accuracy in such examinations, and slight organic disease might have been overlooked. Even admitting that there was no organic disease in the cases described by these writers, there was undoubtedly functional disease inappreciable by the senses ; just as there is often great disorder of the stomach and derange- ment of digestion which cannot be revealed by dissec- tion. There are in fact no diseases which are inde- pendent of affected organs, although the affection may not always be evident to the senses. Mental derangement may perhaps sometimes occur in individuals who after death exhibit no trace of organic disease, though I think such cases are more rare than has generally been supposed. Dr. Haslam says that insanity is always connected with organic alterations of the brain. Greding has noticed thickening of the skull in one hundred and sixty-seven cases out of two hun- dred and sixteen, besides other organic disease. Spurz- heim says he always found changes of structure in the heads of insane people. M. Georget dissected a great number of brains, and his experience is conformable to that of the authors abovementioned.* Mr. David- son, House Surgeon to the Lancaster County Lunatic Asylum, examined with great care the heads of two hundred patients who died in the asylum, " and he scarcely met with a single instance in which traces of disease in the brain or its membranes were not evident, even when the lunacy was recent, and the patient died of a different disease."! * Mcdico-Chirurgical Review, 1827 t Observations on Mental Derangement, by Andrew Combe, M. D i^ Dr. Wright of the Bethlem Lunatic Hospital, states, that in one hundred cases of insane individuals whose heads he examined, all exhibited signs of disease ; in ninety cases tfie signs were very distinct and palpable ; in the remaining ten they were fainter, but still existed in some form or other, such for instance, as that of bloody points, when the brain was cut through.* One of the writers for the prize offered some years ago by the celebrated Esquirol, for the best dissertation on Insanity, observes, that he examined the heads of more than one hundred individuals who died from insanity, and comes to the following conclusions. 1st. That in the brains of those who die of insanity, changes of structure will always be found. 2nd. That these changes are the consequences of inflammation, either acute or chronic. 3rd. That there exists a correspondence between the symptoms and the organic changes ; and that the names of monomania, mania, &c. ought only to be employed as representing degrees and stages of inflammation of the brain.t These references to the intimate connexion between insanity and disease of the brain have been made, be- cause I purpose to show hereafter, that whatever strongly excites the mind or its organ, whether it be study or intense feeling, tends to produce this awful calamity. I shall proceed now with additional evidence that the brain is the material organ of thought. This appears then farther, from the fact, that pressure on the brain terminates all the operations of mind. If a person receives a blow upon the head which depresses a portion of the bone of the skull upon the brain, his intel- * Medico-Cbirurgical Review, 1828. t Archives Generales de Medicine, 1825. 19 lect is lost or deranged until such pressure is removed. Cases like the following are not uncommon. A man at the battle of Waterloo, had a small portion of his skull bone beat in upon the brain, to the depth of half an inch. This caused volition and sensation to cease, and he was nearly in a lifeless state. Mr. Cooper raised up the depressed portion of bone from the brain, and then the man immediately arose, dressed himself, became perfectly rational and recovered rapidly.* The following case occurred in Hartford within a few weeks. H. O. a young man, fell in the evening through the scuttle of a store, but arose immediately, mentioned the fall to some of his acquaintance, and transacted business during the evening. Next day he was found in bed in nearly a senseless state, and soon became in- capable of speaking, hearing, seeing, or swallowing, and appeared to be dying. There was no evidence of any fracture of the skull, and but very slight appearance of any external injury whatever. A slight swelling over the right ear, and the conviction that he could live but a few minutes in the state in which he then was. determined his medical advisers to perforate the skull. I removed a small portion of the bone beneath the slight swelling over the ear, by the trephine, and found more than a gill of clotted blood, which had probably flowed gradually from a wounded blood vessel. On removing this blood the man immediately spoke, soon recovered his mind entirely, and is now, six weeks after the accident, in good health, both as to mind and body. Richerand mentions the case of a woman whose brain was exposed, in consequence of the removal of a con- siderable portion of its bony covering by disease. He says he repeatedly made pressure on the brain, and each * Principles of Military Surgery, by John Hennen 20 time suspended all feeling and all intellect, which were instantly restored when the pressure was withdrawn. The same writer also relates another case, that of a man who had been trepanned, and who perceived his intellectual faculties failing, and his existence apparently drawing to a close, every time the effused blood collected upon the brain so as to produce pressure.* Professor Chapman of Philadelphia, mentions in his Lectures, that he saw an individual with his skull perforated and the brain exposed, who was accustomed to submit him- self to the same experiment of pressure as the above ; and who was exhibited by the late Professor Wistar to his class. His intellect and moral faculties disappeared on the application of pressure to the brain ; they were held under the thumb as it were, and restored at plea- sure to their full activity by relieving the compression.! But the most extraordinary case of this kind within my knowledge, and one peculiarly interesting to the physiologist and metaphysician, is related by Sir Astley Cooper in his Surgical Lectures. A man by the name of Jones, received an injury of his head, while on board a vessel in the Mediterranean. which rendered him insensible. The vessel soon after this accident made Gibraltar, where Jones was placed in the hospital, and remained several months in the same insensible state. He was then carried on board the Dolphin frigate to Deptford, and from thence was sent to St. Thomas's Hospital, London. He lay constantly on his back, and breathed with difficulty. His pulse was regular, and each time it beat, he moved his fingers. When hungry or thirsty, he moved his lips and tongue. Mr. Cline, the surgeon, found a portion of the skull * Richerand's Elements of Physiology. t Principles of Medicine, by Samuel Jackson, M. D. 21 depressed, trepanned him, and removed the depressed portion. Immediately after this operation, the motion of his fingers ceased, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon (the operation having been performed at one,) he sat up in bed ; sensation and volition returned, and in four days he got out of bed and conversed. The last thing he remembered was the circumstance of taking a prize in the Mediterranean.* " From the moment of the acci- dent, thirteen months and a few days, oblivion had come over him, and all recollection had ceased. He had for more than one year, drank of the cup of Lethe and lived wholly unconscious of existence ; yet on removing a small portion of bone which pressed upon the brain, he was restored to the full possession of the powers of his mind and body^'t It is curious to notice, that often an injury of the brain impairs only part of the mental faculties. Such instan- ces give great support to the Phrenological views of Gall and Spurzheim, who contend for a plurality of organs in the brain, and a separate and peculiar function to each organ, as one organ for comparison, another for language, another for wit, &c. Dr. Beattie mentions the case of a learned man who after a blow on his head forgot all his Greek, a language he was well versed in before the injury. His mind and memory were not affected in any other respect. Another person, mentioned by Dr. Abercrombie, lost all recollec- tion of his having a wife and children, for several days after a similar injury, while his memory of the accident and of recent circumstances was perfect. Sir Astley Cooper mentions from personal knowledge, the case of a German sugar-baker, with disease of the * Lectures of Sir Astley Cooper, by Frederick Tyrrel. t Scalpel, 1824. 3 22 brain who in the early stage of his complaint spoke En- glish, but as his disease advanced forgot this language and remembered only the German. The same author relates the case of a man at St. Thomas's hospital, who after a blow upon his head was found talking in a lan- guage unknown to all, until a Welsh woman who en- tered the hospital, recognised it as Welsh ; the blow upon his head had caused him to forget the English language. Dr. Conolly relates a still more remarkable case of a young clergyman, whose head was severely injured a few days before that on which he was to have been married. He recovered as to his health, and lived until the age of eighty, but from the time of the injury his understanding was permanently deranged, though he retained the recollection of his approaching marriage, talked of nothing else during his whole life, and ex- pressed impatience for the arrival of the happy day. But we see analogous affections resulting from fevers, and other diseases which affect the brain. Dr. Rush says that many of the old Germans and Swiss in Penn- sylvania, who had not spoken their native language for fifty or sixty years, and who had probably forgotten it, would often use it in sickness ; and he explains it by supposing that the stimulus of the fever in their brains revived their recollection. He refers also to the case of an Italian, who was master of the Italian, French and English languages, but who in a fever which terminated his life in the city of New-York, spoke English in the commencement of his disease, French only in the middle, and on the day of his death Italian. Numerous cases are related, of persons who, from dis- ease affecting the brain, forget names and events, times 23 and places, but retain a perfect recollection of persons and numbers. And as the same symptoms arise from blows on the head which injure tha brain, and often from fevers, we cannot doubt that the brain is very sim- ilarly affected in both cases. Insanity is known fre- quently to arise fron blows on the head, and fevers often make people insane for years, who are suddenly restored to the full possession of their mental powers, just as the person was restored by trepanning, after remaining a year in an insensible state. Numerous instances similar to those which I have re- lated, are found in works on mental derangement, and they all tend to prove that a well developed and sound brain, is absolutely necessary for correct and powerful operation of the mind. Many of them are exceedingly interesting, and very difficult to explain, except on the ground adopted by Gall and Spurzheim, and eloquently developed and illustrated by Messrs. Combe.* These writers divide the intellectual faculties into two —the knowing and the reflecting. The knowing faculties are individuality, form, size, weight, co- loring, locality, order, time, number, tune and lan- guage ; the reflecting faculties are comparison, causal- ity, wit and imitation. Each faculty has a separate and material instrument or organ in the brain ; and memory belongs to each faculty; hence there are as many kinds of memory as there are organs for the know- ing and reflecting faculties. They say moreover that me- mory is only a degree of activity of the organs ; hence from disease or other causes, increasing the activity of the organs, the recollection of things is far more vivid at one time than at another. This enables us to explain * See System of Phrenology by George Combe, and Observations on Mental Derangement, by Andrew Combe, M. D- 24 those cases that frequently occur, in which from some injury of the brain, a person loses the memory of words, but retains that of things. Dr. Gregory mentions the case of a lady, who after an apoplectic attack, recovered her recollection of things, but could not name them ; oth- ers forget the names of their most intimate friends, whose persons they perfectly recollect. I have a patient at the present time, whose memory is good as respects every thing but places ; he recollects perfectly well, per- sons, names, events, &c, but does not recollect his own, or his neighbors, houses, or the place in which he has resided for many years. Further proof of the connexion between the state of the brain and that of the mind, might be adduced from the many instances of idiots and cretins, who are all nearly destitute of intellect, and defective in the organ- ization of their heads. There have been many exami- nations of the heads of such individuals, says Esquirol, and they have usually been found to be of vicious for- mation. The same writer adds this important remark, " that idiots and cretins sometimes manifest great intel- ligence in early life, and give promise of possessing su- perior mental powers; but these premature beings soon become exhausted, their intellects remain stationary, and the hopes they excited soon vanish."* But the general proposition which I wish to establish, is made evident also from the fact that whatever excites the mind, excites and stimulates the brain. This we know from experience in a severe headache. We perceive the pain to be increased by intense study or thinking, and that mental application determines more blood to the head. So true is it that mental excitement * Dictionaire des Sciences Medicales, Vol. 23 25 prduuces increased flow of blood to the head, that sur- geons are very careful to preserve a quiet state of mind in those whose heads are wounded. Sir Astley Cooper, speaking of such injuries, says that if any mental power remains, all excitement of the brain should be avoided, and relates the following case. " A young gentleman was brought to me from the north of England who had lost a portion of his skull just above the eye brow. On examining the head, I distinctly saw the pulsations of the brain, which were regular and slow ; but at this time he was agitated by some opposition to his wishes, and directly the pulsations of the brain were increased. and became more violent, and more blood rushed to the brain. If therefore, you omit to keep the mind free from agitation, your other means will be unavailing in inju- ries of the head."* The same author mentions another similar case; that of a young man, who had an opening in his skull from a wound, through which he could see an increased ac- tion in the brain, whenever any thing occurred even in conversation to agitate the mind of the patient. The following case is related by M. Broussais. M Thavernier, a captain in the----regiment, forty two years of age, moderately stout, but well formed, received in the middle of Palais Royal, in May, 1815, ninety days before his death, a letter containing bad neios. Whilst perusing it, he remained motionless as if thunder- struck, and the left side of his face became paralysed, and drawn to the opposite side. He was taken to Val de Grace, and attended to. At this time he had complete paralysis of the arm, thigh, and leg of the right side, and was unable to speak. After using various remedies for more than two months, he began to improve, and be* * Lectures on Surgery, &c 26 came so much better as to be able to stand up, and to speak, although with difficulty. In this state of improvement, M. Thavernier received another letter, said to be from his wife; he read it, and instantly there occurred loss of speech, general immobili- ty, abolition of sense, and complete apoplexy. He died in three days after this attack, and on examining the head, there was found engorgement of blood in the sin- uses, and several abscesses were observed in the sub- stance of the brain, and other marks of organic disease. M. Broussais considers this a case of chronic inflamma- tion of the brain induced by a moral cause.* The same general fact, that mental excitement stim- ulates the brain, is proved by numberless cases, and forms the basis for correct treatment of diseases of the brain, and especially for insanity. This disease is produced by morbid excitement of some portions of the brain, and requires for its cure that this disordered organ should be left in absolute repose. Hence arises the benefit of Asylums for Lunatics, where this unhappy class of persons have no cares, no wants to provide for, and where their minds are not excited, but soothed by kind words and gentle and affectionate treat- ment. Sometimes the increased flow of blood to the head is such as wonderfully to increase the powers of the mind. Pinel, and other writers on insanity, relate cases of pa- tients, who possessed but weak minds when in their usu- al state of health, but who exhibited very superior in- tellect during paroxyms of insanity, which determined more blood to the head than ordinarily. Similar facts I have noticed in the insane; sometimes the memory seems to be wonderfully increased, and other times ima- * History of Chronic Phlegmasiae, by F. J. V. Broussais. Vol. 1. 27 gination, or wit, &c, and thus many of the insane are supposed to* possess uncommonly brilliant mental pow- ers. I have known an insane person, during a parox- ysm of insanity, whch usually occurred about once a month, exhibit a very animated countenance, and repeat correctly and with great force and dignity, passages from Shakespeare and other writers, but who in the intervals of these paroxysms, appeared stupid, thoughtless and forgetful. Many instances are on record, of the devel- opement of genius by disease during childhood. The celebrated Novalis had his great mind apparently crea- ted by a very severe disease when he was in his ninth year.* This may arise from an increase of power given to the brain by an increased determination of blood to it, just as the senses are often rendered more acute, by disease and partial imflammation, or it may arise from the rest given to the brain during disease, and the circumstance that its feeble powers are not overtasked and injured by mental application. I might adduce many more cases to prove the very intimate connexion between the brain and the mind, and that it is a defective brain which makes the idiot, a diseased brain which causes delirium and insanity ; and that all the various states of mind produced by alco- hol or by opium, &c., arise from the disordered action in the brain which these articles produce ; that the weak mind manifested by the infant, or the feeble mind by the aged, is produced by a small, undeveloped, or enfeebled and diseased brain, and not by a change of the immate- rial mind itself. But cases enough have been cited to prove these truths. And if we do admit them, and con- sequently that the brain is the organ by which the mind * Foreign Review. 2S acts, all will acknowledge the necessity of guarding this organ most carefully, of exercising it with extreme cau- tion, of not endangering its delicate structure at any pe- riod of life by too much labor, or prevent its full develope- ment by too little ; for the regular exercise of all the or- gans of the brain is necessary to prepare them for the active and powerful manifestation of the mental facul- ties. The healthy condition and proper exercise of the brain, is therefore far more important than that of any other organ of the body, for we might as well expect good di- gestion with a diseased stomach, or good music from a broken instrument, as a good mind with a disordered, enfeebled, or improperly developed brain. And yet, how little regard has been paid to these important truths, in the cultivation of the mind ! While people are exceed- ingly fearful of enfeebling and destroying digestion, by exciting and overtasking the stomach, they do not appear to think they may enfeeble or derange the operations of the mind by exciting the brain, by tasking it when it is in a tender and imperfectly developed state, as it is in childhood. SECTION II. CONDITION OF THE BRAIN IN EARLY LIFE--EFFECT OF EXCITEMENT AND ENLARGEMENT OF THE BRAIN BY DISEASE, ON THE MIND--MENTAL PRECOCITY USUALLY \ SYMPTOM OF DISEASE. Since no organ is fully developed at first, and pre- pared for the powerful execution of its appropriate func- tion, let us enquire at what time of life, nature has pre- pared the brain for the performance of the important office of manifesting the mind. Let us begin with the infant, and ascertain what is the condition of its brain in early life. The brain of a new born infant weighs only about ten ounces ;* that of an adult, generally three pounds and a half, apothecaries' weight, frequently a little less. But if the mind of an adult has been long devoted to thought, if he has been engaged in constant study, his brain is usually increased beyond this weight. The brain of Byron, for instance, is said to have weighed four pounds and a half; and that of the illustrious Cuvier, four pounds thirteen ounces and a half. The size of this organ increases from the time of birth till manhood, remains stationary from this period until old age, and then diminishes in bulk and weightt. It constantly varies as to the relative size of its different portions. * Meckel's Anatomy, Vol. 2. t Andral's Pathological Anatomy, Vol. 2 30 during several of the first years of life, and it is not un- til about the seventh year that all its parts are formed.* During childhood it is " very soft, and even almost liquid under the finger, and its different parts cannot be clearly distinguished."! But still at this time it is sup- plied with more blood in proportion to its size, than it. receives at any subsequent period. Consequently it then grows most rapidly; and more rapidly than any other organ ; its weight is nearly doubled at the end of the first six months ; and hence the nervous sys- tem, being connected with the brain, is early deve- loped, and becomes the predominating system in youth. At this period of life, however, which is devoted to the increase of the body, it is necessary that the nervous system should predominate, for this system is the source of all vital movement, and presides over, and gives energy to those actions which tend to the growth of the organization. Besides, " Infancy," says Bichat, " is the age of sensation. As every thing is new to the infant, every thing attracts its eyes, ears, nostrils, &c. That which to us is an object of indifference is to it a source of pleasure. It was then necessary that the nervous cerebral system should be adapted by its early develope- ment to the degree of action which it is then to have."t But this great and early developement, though neces- sary solely for the above purposes, very much increases the liability to disease; it gives a tendency to convul- sions, and to inflammation and dropsy of the brain, and other diseases of the nervous system, which are most common and fatal in childhood. It is, therefore, deeply important, that the natural * Meckel. t Bichat's General Anatomy, Vol. 1. t General Anatomy. 31 action of the nervous system should not be much increased, either by too much exercise of the mind, or by too strong excitement of the feelings, lest at the same time the liability of children to nervous diseases be increased, and such a predominance given to this system as to make it always easily excited, and disposed to sympathize with disorder in any part of the body ; giving a predisposition to hypochondriasis and numerous and afflicting nervous affections. Mental excitement as has been shown, determines an unnatural flow of blood to the head, and increases the size and power of the brain, just as exercise of the limbs enlarges and strengthens the muscles of the limbs exercised. The wonderful powers of mind which an infant or child sometimes manifests, and by which he surpasses ordinary children, do not arise from better capacity in the mind itself of the child, but in fact from a greater enlargement than usual, of some portion or the whole of the brain, by which the mind is sooner enabled to manifest its powers. This enlargement takes place whether the mental precocity arises from too early and frequent exercise of the mind, or from disease, and it must arise in one of these two ways. But in my opinion, mental precocity is generally a symptom of disease, and hence it results that those who exhibit it die young. This fact ought to be specially remembered by parents, some of whom regard precocity, unless accompanied by some visible disorder, as a most gratifying indication ; and on account of it task the more the memory and the intellect of the child. Sometimes, however, it is accompanied by visible alterations of the head, and then the fears of parents are greatly awakened. Take for instance the disease known by the name of rickets. Every person under- 32 stands that this is a disease of childhood, and according to the best medical authorities, it arises from the irri- tation or inflammation of some organ, and frequently of the brain. Its most characteristic symptoms when it affects the brain, are an enlargement of the head, and premature developement of the intellectual faculties. On examining the heads of those who have died of this dis- ease, the brain is found very voluminous, but ordinarily healthy. Meckel observes that its mass is increased in rickets ; an effect gradually produced, without disorgan- ization of the brain by increased action in its blood ves- sels, and the consequent transmission to it of more blood than usual. It is thus augmented in size, and increas- ed mental power is the consequence of this augmenta- tion. " One of the most remarkable phenomena in the second stage of rickets," says M. Monfalcon, " is the precocious developement, and the energy of the intellec- tual faculties. Rickety children have minds active and penetrating ; their wit is astonishing ; they are suscep- tible of lively passions, and have perspicacity which does not belong to their age. Their brains enlarge in the same manner as the cranium does." He adds, " this wonderful imagination, this judgment, this premature mental power which rickets occasion, has but a short duration. The intellectual faculties are soon exhausted by the precocity and energy of this developement."* I do not say or believe, that cautious tasking of the minds of young children will frequently cause this dis- ease, but I believe there is great danger that it will pro- duce the same unnatural growth of the brain, and this will give rise to an exhibition of superior mental power, and be followed, as in the case of rickets, by perma- * Dictionare dee Sciences Medicate?, Vol. 46. 33 nent weakness, or loss of mental energy. That an in- crease of mental power results from other diseases besides rickets, which stimulate the brain, is evident in many instances; as in fevers that affect the head, in inflam- mation of the brain, and insanity. The following cases are in point. " I have often," says Pinel, " stop- ped at the chamber door of a literary gentleman, who during his paroxysms, appears to soar above the me- diocrity of intellect that was familiar to him, solely to ad- mire his newly acquired powers of eloquence. He de- claimed upon the subject of the revolution with all the force, the dignity and purity of language, that this very interesting subject could admit of. At other times he was a man of very ordinary abilities." The memory sometimes receives a wonderful addi- tion of power from an increased flow of blood to the head, caused by some slight irritation, or stimulation of the brain. Dr. Abercrombie relates the case of a boy, who was trepanned for a fracture of the skull, when at the age of four. He was at the time in complete stupor, and after his recovery retained no recollection of the ope- ration. At the age of fifteen, during the delirium of a fever, he gave a correct description of the operation, and the persons that were present at it, with their dress and other minute particulars. It is added, that he had never been heard to allude to it before, and no means are known by which he could have acquired the circumstan- ces he mentioned. I have myself seen repeated instan- ces of the increase of the power of memory during deliri- um, paroxysms of fever, and other affections which de- termined more blood than usual to the head. Intoxication sometimes increases the energy of the in- tellectual faculties, and revives the memory. Mr. Combe 4 34 mentions .the case of a porter, who in a state of intoxica tion left a parcel at a wrong house; and when sober could not recollect what he had done with it. Rut the next time he became stimulated with liquor, he recollect- ed where he had left it. Shakspeare, no bad authority, says that " wine makes the brain apprehensive, quick, and inventive;" and another author of celebrity, truly ob- serves,. " that wine up to a certain point, rather tends to steady the intellect, and that a few glasses advantageous- ly affected his own."* This effect, almost all persons have experienced. They have perceived that their men- tal and moral faculties were greatly and rapidly changed by alcohol, or wine, or opium, or by some other substance which affects the circulation. Who has not felt that transient joy, happiness, or courage, is a marketable com- modity ; " that extacies can be corked up in bottles, or peace of mind sent in gallons by the mail coach." From such facts we learn, that the varying states of the organization, have a powerful influence upon the in- tellectual and moral faculties; and that to affect the mind in a desirable manner, and to increase and perpetuate its energy, it is necessary to give constant attention to the agents that act upon the body, and watch that they do not injure the mind by too much excitement of the physical system, or prevent the proper developement of its powers, by too little; for wine, and all other unnatural stimuli, though they may for a short time quicken and give energy to the intellect, ultimately depress and en- feeble it; and on the other hand, long continued low diet, and a want of sufficient nutriment for the body debili- tates the mind. I proceed to mention additional cases, to prove that mental power is increased by the action of the brain. * Confessions of an English opium eater. 35 During an attack of delirium, many people have learned tor read and write with great rapidity, but have been unable to do either after their reason returned, and increased determination of blood to the brain had ceas- ed. Another attack of insanity however, revived their memory, and their ability to read and write. Many people have their recollection of past events wonderfully restored by dreams. Several instances of this kind are related by Dr. Abercrombie, in his " Inquiries concern ing the intellectual powers," but I think they must be accounted for on the ground of increased activity of cer- tain portions of the brain, during sleep. In somnambu- lism, which differs but little from dreaming, some peo- ple have been able to recollect things long forgotten, and to talk in a language of which they had no knowl- edge when awake, but with which they had in early life some partial acquaintance. This wonderful power of the memory has often given rise to the belief in the gift of tongues, for this power has been often exhibited, in ignorant and fanatical times, by a few, when under great excitement. Those who had learned but a httle of a language when young, and had totally forgotten it, were now, when in a convulsive state, able to speak it flu- ently ; while others were able to repeat long passages from books that they had never read but once, and had not seen for many years.* Similar effects have been produced by animal magnetism, which every one knows, powerfully affects the imagination. During the state of " extase," caused by magnetism, the memory has been often surprisingly perfected ; and some have been rendered able to speak in a language they had long * See interesting accounts of the Possedes ; Trembleurs des Cevennes ; Convulsionnaires de Saint-Medard ; Malades exorcises par Gasner, &c, in Magnatisme Animate par Bertrand. 36 forgotten. But this state was always accompanied by symptoms that showed an increased determination of blood to the head. All had slight convulsions, the face became red, and the eyes bright, and after a while humid.* But like effects are produced by disease. They are not rare, says M. Bertrand, in all diseases' which great- ly excite the brain. M. Moreau (de la Sarthe) says, in the Encyclopedie Methodique, (Art. Medicine Men- tale,) that he had the care of a child twelve or thirteen years of age, who knew only the first elements of the Latin language, and yet suddenly, during the excitement of a nervous fever, became capable of speaking this lan- guage with great purity. But the most remarkable and instructive case within my knowledge, that serves to shew the influence of the organization and action of the brain on the mental and moral character, and one which appears to me very de- serving the consideration of the metaphysician, is related in the American Journal of Medical Sciences, for 1829, by Professor Horner, of the University of Pennsyl- vania. Master William M., the fourth child of his parents, was born in Philadelphia on the 4th of June, 1820. At birth, his head was of ordinary size, but very soon, after an attack of dropsy of the brain, it began to grow inordinately. After he began to walk, its size was so great that he attracted much attention ; and he was apt to fall, especially forwards, from readily losing his equi- librium. His health was generally good. Dec. 12th, 1828, he fell against a door, and bruised his forehead; in an hour afterwards he vomited, became very sick, and died the next evening. During his short * Bertrand. Magnetisme Animate. 37 sickness he had no head-ache, and complained only of his stomach. On examining his head the day after his death, it was found to be considerably larger than that of a full grown person, measuring twenty eight inches in cir- cumference. The lateral ventricles contained a great quantity of transparent serum, which had distended the brain to a very great degree, and produced much of the enlargement of the head. The appearance of all the parts of the brain it is not necessary to particularize. It may be remarked only, that many parts, especially those at the base of the brain, were healthy, and the small blood vessels were generally congested with blood. The following interesting account of this child's men- tal and moral faculties, was furnished by Dr. J. K. Mitchell, the family physician. " When 15 months old the child spoke well, and at 18 months, was able to sing a variety of musical airs with tolerable correctness ; and always exhibited a strong predilection for music. His intellectual faculties generally were very respectable, and his powers of observation rather remarkable. But his memory, both of language and sentiments, was such as to excite surprise in those who took pains to converse with him. The following example of his powers of re- collection, may not be amiss. A customer of his father having been absent two years, returned, and on his en- trance into the shop, saluted as an acquaintance, its in- mates ; but they had forgotten him. On turning to little M. the latter immediately called him by name, inquired kindly about him, and then told him that he had not been to see them for two years. Of a grave and quiet temperament, he preferred the society of his seniors, and took little interest in the com- 4* 38 mon pastimes of childhood. Only sedate children were agreeable to him. For so youthful a person, his senti- ments and affections were of a lofty character. Seeing the distress of his mother, when commercial affairs took his father to Europe, the child, then five years of age said, " Father will soon be back ; if he do'nt come again, I will be a husband to my mother, and will work for her, and take care of her when she is old." For two years before his death, little M. became affect- ed by religious impressions, which grew stronger and stronger until his death. Often advising others, he pre- sented in his own conduct, a. fine exemplification of his principles, being distinguished among the children of the family and the school, for love of truth, and general sin- cerity of character. At length, even while in full health and vigor, he spoke of death as a thing to be desired ; and when dying, expressed pleasure at the approaching crisis." The following in my opinion, is the true explanation of the surprising mental powers exhibited by this boy. Disease or some other cause, irritated his brain ; this ir- ritation attracted more than an ordinary quantity of blood to the head, and thus excited, and unnaturally or pre- maturely developed, certain portions of the brain ; and just in proportion as these were developed, his mental powers were increased. A similar case of enlargement of the head from drop- sy, and accompanied by great power of memory is re- lated by Dr. Monro, in the second volume of the Medi- cal Transactions of the London College of Physicians ; and cases like the following are not rare in medical books, or in practice. L. H. aged 14, had always appeared in delicate health, without having any serious disease. He exhibited more maturity of understanding than is, • 39 common at his age, and preferred study to the usual amusements of children. At the age of 13, he had Scro- fulous swellings, then disease of the head, and finally con- vulsions, of which he died. On opening his body, the brain was found very large; its vessels turgid with blood.* In the substance of the brain was found a small tumor of the size of a walnut, and of a red color. Men- tal application did not in this case, probably, produce the disease ; but the disease itself, by increasing the determi- nation of blood to the brain, caused the early compara- tive maturity of understanding. I have referred to it to show that disease, and constant excitement of the mind in childhood, have similar effects upon the brain, and each may unfit it for the long continuance of its ap- propriate functions. I have repeatedly seen cases very similar to the above as to the symptoms, in connection with Scrofulous diseases, and premature developement of the mind. Dan- gerous forms of scrofulous disease among children; have repeatedly fallen under my observation, for which I could not account in any other way, than by supposing that the brain had been exercised, at the expense of other parts of the system, and at a time of life when nature is endeavoring to perfect all the organs of the body. And after the disease commenced, I have witnessed with grief the influence of the same cause, in retarding or prevent- ing recovery. I have seen several affecting and melan- choly instances of children, five or six years of age, lin- gering awhile with diseases from which those less gifted readily recover; and at last dying, notwithstanding the utmost efforts to restore them. During their sickness, they constantly manifested a passion for books, and men- * Merat, Journal de Medicine, Vol X. 40 tal excitement, and were admired for the maturity of their minds. The chance for the recovery of such pre- cocious children, is in my opinion small, when attacked by disease ; and several medical men have informed me that their own observations had led them to form the same opinion ; and have remarked, that in two cases of sickness, if one of the patients was a child of superior and highly cultivated mental powers, and the other one equally sick, but whose mind had not been excited by study, they should feel much less confident of the recovery of the former than of the latter. This early mental precocity, results from an unnatural devel- opement of one organ of the body, at the expense of the constitution, as is thus explained by two of the most cele- brated men of the medical profession. " It is a fundamen- tal law of the distribution of vital powers," says Bichat, " that when they are increased in one part, they are diminished in all the rest of the living economy ; that the sum is never augmented, but that they are neces- sarily transported from one organ to another, and there- fore to increase the powers of one organ, it is absolutely necessary they should be diminished in the others.'* ' Extra developement and sensibility of the brain,' says Dr. James Johnson, < cannot take place, but at the ex- pense of some function or structure, in the animal or organic system; when therefore an undue share of the vital energy of any individual, is directed to a par- ticular organ or system, a proportionate subduction is made from some other organ or system ; and this is a most undoubted and most important truth, which is httle understood, and less attended to by the world in general."t * Physiological Researches upon Life and Death. t Influence of Civic Life on Health, &c. 41 It is thus, that a child is made an intellectual prodi- gy. The premature developement o( mind, is owing to the premature developement of the brain, occasioned by undue excitement, and the robbery of other organs of their natural share of vital energy. But, as Dr. Johnson says, this is a " truth little attended to by the world in general." Most parents are ignorant of it, and are generally anxious for the early cultivation of the minds of their children. To effect this object, they are assisted by teachers who profess ability, with the aid of books, maps, machinery and pictures, to make children of only a few years of age understand a vast many truths in Chronology, History, Geometry, and many other sciences ; to mature very rapidly their understand- ings, and surprisingly quicken their reasoning powers. And when a child from much instruction, or from dis- ease, has reached this superior mental condition, Me- moirs, and Anecdotes of his Life are published (for such children seldom live many years,) for the sake of instruction and example.* Such publications have been extensively circulated ; they have been greatly * See Memoirs of John Mooney Mead, who died, April 8th, 1831, aged 4 years, 11 months, and 4 days. He was " taught hymns before he could speak plainly," " reasoned with,"' and constantly instructed until his last sickness, during which, "when the parents and physician thought him. getting better, the disease, without any assignable cause, suddenly put on a violent and unexpected form." The Memoir was " examined by several judicious persons—ministers and others, all of whom united in the request that it might be published; and all agreed in the opinion, that a knowledge of the manner in which the child was treated, together with the results, would be profitable both to parents and children, and a benefit to the cause of education." I sincerely hope they will be ; but by producing a very differ- ent impression, from that which the Memoir is designed to make ; and by teaching parents to avoid adopting a similar course with the children com- mitted to their care. See also Memoirs of Addison Pinneo, Mary Lothrop, Nathan W. Dickerman, and notices of numerous other young intellectual prodigies, which are to be found in bookstores, in Magazines, and various Periodicals for children. 42 approved, and probably have had much influence with parents in the education of infants. Much of the thoughtlessness of parents regarding the injury they may do their children by too early cultivating their minds, has arisen from the mystery in which the science of mind has been involved, and ignorance of the connexion between the mind and body ; for we find they are exceedingly anxious and careful about the health of their children in other respects. Entirely for- getful of the brain, they know there is danger in exer- cising many other parts of the body too much, when they are but partially developed. They know that great caution is necessary with children as respects their food, lest their delicate digestive organs should be injured by a too exciting and stimulating regimen. A parent would be greatly alarmed if his little child, by continued encouragement and training had learned to eat as much food as a healthy adult. But such a prodigy of glut- tony might undoubtedly be formed. The method to effect it, would be somewhat like that of enabling a child to remember, and reaspn, and study with the ability and constancy of an adult. Each method is dangerous, but probably the latter is most so, because the brain is a much more delicate organ than the stomach. The activity of most of the organs of the body can be very greatly increased ; they can be made to perform their functions for a while with unusual facility and power. I will dwell upon this fact a little. The child, for instance, may be gradually accustomed to eat and di- gest large quantities of stimulating animal food. I have seen an instance of this kind, and when I remonstrated with the parents on the impropriety and danger of allow- ing a child but two years old, such diet constantly, I was 43 told that he was uncommonly robust; and indeed he ap- peared to be in vigorous health ; but soon after this he had a long inflammatory fever of an unusual character for children, which I attributed at the time, to the stimu- lating diet allowed him. This diet appeared also to have an effect upon his disposition, and confirmed the obser- vation of Hufeland, that " infants who are accustomed to eat much animal food become robust, but at the same time passionate, violent and brutal." A child may also be made to execute surprising muscular movements, such as walking on a rope, and other feats ; but these are learned only by long practice, which greatly deve- lopes the muscles by which the movements are executed. It is from this practice, from frequent and powerful action, that the muscles of the arms of blacksmiths and boxers and boatmen, and those of the lower limbs of dancers, and those of the face of buffoons,* become strikingly enlarged when compared with the muscles in other parts of the bod)'. Every employment in which men engage brings into relatively greater action parti- cular parts of the system ; some organs are constantly and actively exercised, while others are condemned to inactivity. To make therefore one oigan superior "to another in power, it is necessary not only to exercise it frequently, but to render other organs inactive, so as not to draw away from it that vital energy which it requires in order to be made perfect. The important truth resulting from these facts, that the more any part of the human system is exercised, the more it is enlarged, and its powers increased, applies equally to all organs of the body ; it applies to * People who are in the habit of indulging anger, very often develope certain muscles of the face to such a degree as to impart to the countenance an expression of ill nature, when they are not in anger. 44 the brain as well as the muscles. The heads of great thinkers, as has been stated, are wonderfully large; and it has been ascertained by experiment, that they frequently continue to increase until the subjects are fif- ty years of age, and long after the other portions of the system have ceased to enlarge. " This phenomemon," says M. Itard, " is not very rare, even in the adult, espe- cially among men given to study, or profound medita- tion, or who devote themselves, without relaxation, to the agitations of an unquiet and enterprising spirit. The head of Bonaparte, for instance, was small in youth, but acquired in after life, a developement nearly enor- mous."* I would have the parent, therefore, understand that his child may be made to excel in almost any thing; that by increasing the power of certain organs through exercise, he can be made a prodigy for early mental or muscular activity. But I would have him at the same time, understand the conditions upon which this can be effected, and its consequences. I would have him fully aware, that in each case, unusual activity and power is produced, by extraordinary developement of an organ ; and especially that in early life, no one organ of the body can be long exercised, without the risk of most disastrous consequences. Either the over-excited and over-tasked organ itself will be injured for life, or the developement of other and essential parts of the system will be arrest- ed forever. From what has been said hitherto, we gather the fol- lowing facts, which should be made the basis of all in- struction ; facts which I wish often to repeat. The brain is the material organ by which all the mental • Dictionaire des Sciences Medicates, Vol. 22. Art. Hydrocephale. 45 facilities are manifested ; it is exceedingly delicate, and but partially developed in childhood ; over-ex- citement of it when in this state, is extremely hazard- ous. SECTION III. CONSEQUENCES WHICH HAVE RESULTED FROM INATTENTION TO THE CONNEXION BETWEEN THE MIND AND BODY.-- THE BEST MINDS NOT CAUSED BY EARLY MENTAL CUL- TURE. Teachers of youth, in general, appear to think, that in exciting the mind, they are exercising something totally independent of the body, some mysterious entity, whose operations do not require any corporeal assistance. They endeavor to accelerate to the utmost the move- ments of an extremely delicate machine, while most unfortunately they are totally ignorant of its construc- tion. They only know that its action and power may both be increased for a while, by the application of a certain force ; and when the action becomes deranged, and the power destroyed, they know not what is the difficulty, nor how it can be remedied. Fortunately they do not attempt to remedy it themselves, but call in the physician, who, if he affords any relief at all, does it by operating on a material organ. If medical men en- tertained the same views with teachers, they would, in attempting to restore a deranged mind, entirely overlook the agency of the body, and instead of using means calculated to effect a change of action in the brain, would rely solely upon arguments and appeals to the under- standing. For if the mind may be cultivated indepen- 47 dent of the body, why may it not also be remedied when disordered, without reference to the body 1 Instructors of youth, and authors of books for chil- dren, would do well to acquaint themselves with human Anatomy and Physiology, before they undertake to cul- tivate and discipline the mind. The neglect of these sciences on their part, is a most lamentable evil. If they had been understood, I am confident that innume- rable books for children, which have been highly praised, and esteemed very useful, would never have been pub- lished ; books, which instead of being blessings to com- munity, have, I fear, done incalculable injury. Few things, I think, will be more surprising to future gene- rations than the fact, that those whose business it is, in this enlightened age, to cultivate the human mind, were ignorant of the organ by which the mind acts, and of course were inattentive to its condition. It will appear strange hereafter, that many, through the medium of books, ventured to dictate the manner in which the mind should be disciplined and tasked; and when it became disordered, acknowledged its dependance on an organization of which they were ignorant, and expect- ed to have it restored by those who in all attempts to remedy it, act upon the organization. Should teachers of youth venture thus, like Phaeton, to guide the chariot of the sun, while ignorant of the power they endeavor to superintend, and of the means of controlling its irregular action? As reference has just been made to books for children, it seems a fitting opportunity here, to enlarge a little upon this topic. They are then, excessively abundant. Some are announced as purposely prepared, " for chil- dren from two to three years old." Many are for the week-day infant school; some for the " Sabbath infant 48 school;" some to teach children History and Geography: others to instruct them in Geometry, Theology, and Metaphysics. The " Child's," " The Girl's," " The Boy's" Book, have multiplied on almost all subjects, until they have become nuisances. Where is the proof that they have ever benefitted a single child 7 Do the youth now. of the age of 15, who have used such books most of their lives, who committed to memory innumerable truths, and were taught to reason when at the age of 3 or 4, possess more active and independent minds, than their parents possessed at the same age 7 Doe3 their* mental power now, show the good effect of their early and ex- traordinary culture 7 Do not the numerous slender, delicate, and pale faced youths who are seen in our col- leges, and in Boarding schools for girls, exhibit the bad effects of this system 7 I ask again, where is any evi- dence that books, put into the hands of children before the age of 7 or 8, are of any lasting benefit, either to the body or the mind 7 I have shown that they may do immense injury. But apart from the injury which such books produce, by too early exciting the mind and feelings of children, many of them are very objectionable, on account of the nonsense and falsehood which they contain. Some^ designed for children from hvo to three years of age, contain such trash as the following ; " Englishmen love roast beef and plum pudding. The Dutchman loves cheese and red herring. The Frenchman loves soup and sallad. The German loves ham and pompernicle," &c. &c* Surely children of any age, are better without such knowledge than with it. Other " Books," " Les- sons," " Manuals," and " Tales for Infants" and for " In- fant Schools," contain much that is questionable as to * See Lessons for children two or three years old. 49 truth, much that infants had better not know, and much that is far above their comprehension. Some contain garbled accounts from Scripture, of the creation of man, and his apostacy, and other religious truths which no child can understand, or profit by if he could understand them ; the full account given in the Bible is far better. Other books for infants, contain " Lessons in Geometry, Botany, Astronomy," &c. &c* The method of teaching little children, varies in differ- ent schools, but that is every where considered the best, which forces the infant mind the fastest. In some schools, the memory is chiefly cultivated, and children are taught innumerable facts. Here we see those who are scarcely able to talk, exhibited as wonderful children. They are declared to be deserving of the highest praise, and prophesied about as giving promise of great distinc- tion in future, because they are able to tell us who was the oldest man, and many other equally useful and im- portant facts. They are also able to tell us many truths in Astronomy, Geometry, Chemistry, &c.