PHRENOLOGY EXAMINED. PHRENOLOGY EXAMINED. BY P. FLOURENS, MEMBER OF THE FRENCH ACADEMY, PERPETUAL SECRETARY OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (INSTITUTE OF FRANCE), MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON AND EDINBURG, OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF STOCKHOLM, OF MUNICH, AND OF TURIN, ETC. ETC. PROFESSOR OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AT PARIS. “J’ai un sentiment clair de ma liberté.” BOSSUET, TRAITÉ DU LIBRE ARBITRE. Translated from the Second Edition of 1845, by CHARLES DE LUCENA MEIGS, M.D. MEMB. AMER. PHIL. SOC. ETC. ETC. PHILADELPHIA: HOGAN & THOMPSON. 1846. ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1845, BY CHARLES D. MEIGS, M. D. IN THE CLERK’S OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA. TO DR. JAMES JACKSON, OF BOSTON. MY DEAR SIR: Perhaps I have taken too great a liberty in sending to you in this public manner, and in praying you to accept a copy of M. Flourens’ ingenious work. I have a very sincere desire that you should read the Inquiry; for I feel sure, that if you approve of it, the studious portion of our countrymen who may peruse it, will concur in the opinion of a gentleman so justly distinguished as yourself in every good word and work, and so capable of judging as to the salutary or evil tendency of the productions of our teeming press. Inasmuch as many of our countrymen have heretofore felt, and many do now feel, desirous to know the truth as to the question of the multiple nature of the human mind, I have here translated the Examination, in order that they might have an opportunity to learn what is thought of Gall’s doctrines by one of the best and most precise thinkers in Europe. Professor Flourens, by his writings on the brain and nervous system, by his courses of lectures at the Jardin des Plantes, by numerous writings on various scientific subjects, by his position in the Institute, has acquired a place among the literary and scientific celebrities of the present age. The amiable and elegant manners, and the fine disposition of this distinguished character, coincide with his acknowledged learning, and exactness, and zeal, to accumulate upon him the public respect and esteem. It is therefore with great confidence that I present to you this copy of his criticism upon Phrenology, since I suppose that every writing of so good a man might prove acceptable to you, and to the studious portion of our countrymen generally.