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Phrenological Development of Robert Burns: From a Cast of His Skull Moulded at Dumfries, the 31st Day of March 1834Combe, George

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Phrenological Development of Robert Burns: From a Cast of His Skull Moulded at Dumfries, the 31st Day of March 1834

Name: Phrenological Development of Robert Burns: From a Cast of His Skull Moulded at Dumfries, the 31st Day of March 1834
Author: Combe, George

Combe, George

Burns, Robert, 1759-1796; Phrenology

The following description is written by Mr Archibald Blacklock, Surgeon:
"The cranial bones were perfect in every respect, if we except a little
erosion of their external table, and firmly held together by their
sutures; even the delicate bones of the orbits, with the trifling
exception of the _os unguis_ in the left, were sound and uninjured by
death and the grave. The superior maxillary bones still retained the four
most posterior teeth on each side, including the dentes sapientiæ, and all
without spot or blemish; the incisores, cuspidati, &c., had, in all
probability, recently dropped from the jaw, for the alveoli were but
little decayed. The bones of the face and palate were also sound. Some
small portions of black hair, with a very few grey hairs intermixed, were
observed while detaching some extraneous matter from the occiput. Indeed,
nothing could exceed the high state of preservation in which we found the
bones of the cranium, or offer a fairer opportunity of supplying what has
so long been desiderated by Phrenologists--a correct model of our immortal
Poet's head; and in order to accomplish this in the most accurate and
satisfactory manner, every particle of sand or other foreign body was
carefully washed off, and the plaster-of-Paris applied with all the tact
and accuracy of an experienced artist. The Cast is admirably taken, and
cannot fail to prove highly interesting to Phrenologists and others.

"Having completed our intention, the Skull, securely enclosed in a leaden
case, was again committed to the earth precisely where we found it.

  "ARCHD. BLACKLOCK."
  DUMFRIES, _1st April 1834_.




CEREBRAL DEVELOPMENT OF BURNS.


I.--DIMENSIONS OF THE SKULL.

                                                                   Inches.
  Greatest circumference,                                           22-1/4
  From Occipital Spine to Individuality, over the top of the head,  14
   ... Ear to Ear vertically over the top of the head,              13
   ... Philoprogenitiveness to Individuality (greatest length),      8
   ... Concentrativeness to Comparison,                              7-1/8
   ... Ear to Philoprogenitiveness,                                  4-7/8
   ... Ear to Individuality,                                         4-3/4
   ... Ear to Benevolence,                                           5-1/2
   ... Ear to Firmness,                                              5-1/2
   ... Destructiveness to Destructiveness,                           5-3/4
   ... Secretiveness to Secretiveness,                               5-7/8
   ... Cautiousness to Cautiousness,                                 5-1/2
   ... Ideality to Ideality,                                         4-5/8
   ... Constructiveness to Constructiveness,                         4-1/2
   ... Mastoid process to Mastoid process,                           4-3/4


II.--DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANS.

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Phrenological Development of Robert Burns: From a Cast of His Skull Moulded at Dumfries, the 31st Day of March 1834

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