The Illustrated Self-Instructor in Phrenology and PhysiologyFowler, O. S. (Orson Squire)
Science
The Illustrated Self-Instructor in Phrenology and Physiology
Fowler, O. S. (Orson Squire)
Phrenology
Throughout universal nature, the structure of all things is powerful or
weak, hard or soft, coarse or fine, etc., in accordance with its
functions; and in this there is a philosophical fitness or adaptation.
What immense power of function trees put forth, to rear and sustain aloft,
at such great mechanical disadvantage, their ponderous load and vast
canvas of leaves, limbs, and fruit or seeds, spread out to all the
surgings of tempestuous winds and storms; and the _texture_ of wood is as
compact and firm as its functional power is prodigious. Hence its value as
timber. But tender vegetables, grains, etc., require little power, and
accordingly are fragile in structure. Lions, tigers, hyenas, and all
powerfully strong beasts, have a correspondingly powerful organic
structure. The muscular strength of lions is so extraordinary, that
seizing wild cattle by the neck, they dash through thicket, marsh, and
ravine, for hours together, as a cat would drag a squirrel, and their roar
is most terrific; and so powerful is their structure, that it took Drs.
McClintock, Allen, myself, and two experienced "resurrectionists," FOUR
HOURS, though we worked with might and main, just to cut off a magnificent
Numidian lion's head. So hard and tough were the muscles and tendons of
his neck, that cutting them seemed like severing wire, and after slitting
all we could, we were finally obliged to employ a powerful purchase to
start them. It took over three hard days' work to remove his skin. So
compact are the skins of the elephant, rhinoceros, alligator, and some
other animals of great muscular might, that rifle-balls, shot against
them, flatten and fall at their feet--their structure being as dense as
their strength is mighty--while feeble animals have a correspondingly soft
structure. In like manner, the flesh of strong persons is dense and most
elastic, while those of weakly ones are flabby, and yield to pressure.
Moreover, fineness of texture manifests exquisiteness of sensibility, as
seen by contrasting human organism and feelings with brutes, or
fine-haired persons with coarse-haired. Of course, a similar relation and
adaptation exist between all other organic characteristics and their
functions. In short, it is a LAW as philosophical as universal, that the
structure of all beings, and of each of their organs, corresponds
perfectly with their functions--a law based in the very nature and fitness
of things, and governing all shades and diversities of organization and
manifestation. Accordingly those who are coarse-skinned are coarse in
feeling, and coarse-grained throughout; while those finely organized are
fine-minded, and thus of all other textures of hair, skin, etc.
3.--SHAPE CORRESPONDS WITH CHARACTER.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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