in all ages, seeing the deceptions constantly practised on mankind by the marvellous, have been very justly on their guard against easy credulity, it does not become the true philosopher of the nineteenth century to close the organs of his five external senses against the intrusion of any evidence which might possibly disturb some favorite and long cherished system. It does not become the philosophic inquirer to decide precipitately that any phenomenon is too marvellous for belief. Many natural phenomena which were formerly regarded with superstitious awe, as, for instance, the Spectre of Brocken, which consisted of a gigantic image of man delineated on the sky, the fact of troops performing their evolutions on the surface of a lake, or on the face of an inaccessible precipice, or the equally extraordinary phantasm of a ship's being seen in the air, in the solitude of the ocean's waste, notwithstanding no vessel was within reach of the eye,-are all now satisfactorily explained by the unequal refractive powers of the atmosphere, arising from its variable temperature. "It is impossible," says Dr. Brewster, "to study these phenomena without being impressed with the conviction, that nature is full of the marvellous, and that the progress of science, and the diffusion of knowledge, are alone capable of dispelling the fears which her wonders must necessarily excite, even in enlightened minds."

In like manner, to those unaware that each mental faculty has its distinct organ in the brain, the proposition that these emotions or faculties may be excited at will, as when we call forth the different notes of a musical instrument, is so startling as to be beyond credibility; but to the mind of the phrenologist, who has been wont to contemplate the great truths of his science, the announcement of such results offers no violence. This field of scientific research, which offers a harvest rich in new and valuable facts, is open to every laborer; and we find accordingly, that it has been already entered upon by many philosophical inquirers. We, as well as many others, have witnessed repeated experimental verifications of the excitement of the separate organs of the brain, thus calling forth, in an intense degree, their natural language and action. Although

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the number of those having brains thus excitable, is comparatively small, yet in every society of a few hundred individuals, there will be found some subjects impressible in a greater or less degree. To those in whom scepticism is a predominant organ, we would seriously recommend the perusal of the following lines written by Galileo to Kepler, which are not the worse for having been oft quoted :—

"Here, at Padua, is the principal professor of philosophy, whom I have repeatedly and urgently requested to look at the moon and planets through my glasses, which he pertinaciously refuses to do."

We would now proceed to illustrate the general subject of NEUROLOGY, by bringing before the reader certain portions of a report on experimental investigations, published in the "Evening Post" of the 6th December, entitled

"Minutes of the Proceedings of a Committee appointed by the public audience attending the lectures of Dr. Buchanan, to superintend experiments relating to Neurology,' and to prepare experiments suitable for public exhibition."

The committee met on the 4th and 5th of November, and spent several hours each day in the performance of a variety of experiments, but as a general impression prevailed that the results exhibited were not, on the whole, of a character so marked and unequivocal as to be very satisfactory, Dr. Buchanan stated that he had relied on the expectation that some impressible subjects would be brought to the meeting by members of the committee, but that there had not been any of a character other than very imperfect and doubtful. He suggested that a subcommittee should be appointed, who could witness experiments in greater privacy upon some subjects who might be found unwilling to appear before so large a number as the general committee, and who would also be able to bestow more time on the investigation of the subject than could be done by the larger number. This suggestion being adopted, the following gentlemen were appointed as that sub-committee:-Rev. Henry W. Bellows, Messrs. William C. Bryant and John L. O'Sullivan, and Dr. Samuel Forry. The firstnamed of these gentlemen was prevented by absence from the city from

being present at the greater part of the experiments made, and from participating in the report.

We will present, in the first place,

the conclusions of this sub-committee:

66 REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE.

"The sub-committee, appointed to witness private experiments by Dr. Buchanan, beg leave to report, to the committee from which their appointment emanated, that they have held meetings, of which an account is given in their minutes subjoined. Their object has been to give to the subject an attention, at the same time cautious and candid, and to present a simple statement of their observations, to serve as a basis for the deductions of others, rather than of any positive conclusions of their own, as to the correctness of those views and opinions to which Dr. Buchanan has given the name of the science of Neurology,' as discovered and developed by him.

"For the sake of rendering more intelligible the bearing of the facts and appearances observed, upon those principles propounded by Dr. Buchanan, of which they are presented as illustrations and evidences, the sub-committee present also a brief and general statement of the outlines of Dr. Buchanan's system, as furnished by himself, at their request.

"In justice to Dr. Buchanan, they at the same time feel bound to declare the highly favorable manner in which, throughout all the intercourse growing out of this investigation, they have been impressed by the evident intelligence, sincerity, and earnestness of convictions, and truthfulness of conduct and deportment, strongly characterizing that gentleman; and that they are fully satisfied of the honorable motives prompting his present devotion to these investigations, in the sole spirit of a student of science, a pursuer of truth, and a friend of his race. They will also add that, feeling every reason to believe in the good faith and veracity of the subjects of these experiments-independent of those experiments which were, in themselves, of a nature to preclude deception-they deem it their duty, in view of the extraordinary facts they have witnessed, to say that, although they have obtained a very imperfect knowledge of the system of Dr. Buchanan, and have been prevented by the pressure of their other avocations from bestowing on the subject as much time as would have been desirable to themselves; they have had sufficient evidence to satisfy them that Dr. Buchanan's views have a rational experimental foundation, and that the subject

opens a field of investigation second to no other in immediate interest, and in promise of important future results to science and humanity.

"The different members of the subcommittee have not all been present at all the meetings described in their minutes. Some of them have, however, in private, on other occasions than those here referred to, witnessed other similar experiments, of the most interesting and satisfactory character, which are not here described, because not witnessed by them collectively, in that capacity in which alone they have to make the present report. The absence of Mr. Bellows from the city, at the time of submitting this report, renders it necessary to forego the advantage of his participation in it. The minutes were prepared by Dr. Forry, from notes taken at the time of the various experiments. The papers appended to this report are Buchanan, of the outlines of his system a brief and general statement, by Dr. or science of 'Neurology,' and the minutes of the proceedings of the sub-committee. "All of which is respectfully submitted... "WM. C. BRYANT,

"J. L. O'SULLIVAN,

"SAMUEL FORRY, M. D."

Every reader must determine for himself the degree of confidence to which the statements of this committee are entitled. The name of one of its members is already classical in the English language; Dr. Forry's recent excellent work on the Climate and Endemic Influences of the United States has given him, though a young man, an honorable place among the scientific observers and writers of the day; while, however otherwise obscure, the remaining name is not unknown to the readers of the Review, through which he has the honor, monthly, of coming into a relation with them, grateful on the one side, and not unfriendly, it is hoped, on the other.

The following outlines of the principles of Neurology, by Dr. Buchanan himself, will, in connection with the remarks already made, afford the reader at least some general idea of the subject:

"Gentlemen-As you desire from me a sketch of the principles of Neurology, I submit the following brief statement, hoping that its brevity will not render it obscure:

"The word Neurology, as it relates to man, is but another name for the great science of Anthropology, because the

science of the nervous substance necessarily includes all the manifestations of mind and life connected with or dependent upon that substance, which we know is the seat of life and the organ of the mind. "Physiology, Pathology, Insanity, and what has been called Animal Magnetism, Mental Philosophy or Phrenology, Cranioscopy, Physiognomy, Education, &c., are partial views of the phenomena and systematic laws of the human constitution, which constitute the science of Neurology.

"The characteristic feature of that system of Neurology which I have brought before the public is, that it has been established by means of cautious and decisive experiments, and may easily be verified by any individual who has the necessary patience to pursue the investigation of the subject.

"The experiments consist in exciting the various functions of the nervous substance in the cranium or the body by the application of the proper stimulating agents. Every article of the materia medica possesses in some form, or to some extent, the power of exciting and modifying the functions; Galvanism, Electricity, Magnetism, and Caloric, possess efficient exciting powers; but no agent that I have used possesses so efficient, and at the same time, so congenial an influence, as the aura of the nervous system.

"This Neuraura, which is the agent by which one individual makes a physiological impression upon another, when in contact, is radiated and conducted freely from the human hand. The experiments which I have made in your presence, consist in applying this Neuraura to the various portions of the brain, upon which it may make an impression through the cranium and the face, which present no obstacles to its transmission.

"To develope important results from such experiments, it is necessary that we should make them upon persons whose cerebral action is easily excited or deranged by slight influences. It is necessary that the portion of the brain which we excite should be so energetically stimulated as to become predominant over all the other portions, and to manifest its functions in a pure and distinct form, unmingled with any different or counteracting functions. It is also extremely desirable that the experiments should be made upon persons whose mental cultivation, sagacity, and integrity, render their descriptions of their own sensations cautious, exact, and worthy of implicit confidence.

"As my experiments have been repeated by many phrenologists and others, and

have generally been attempted by them during the state of somnambulism superinduced by mesmeric operations, I would remark that such experiments are often highly deceptive and inaccurate. Experiments should be made in the natural condition of the subject, and free from the imaginative excitement which belongs to somnambulism. As far as I have heard of the result of the somnambulic experiments, I know of but few cases in which the operator has not been misled by his imaginative subject.

"An extensive course of experiments upon persons of intelligence, in their natural state of mind, has established and placed beyond a doubt, the fact that the brain, as a psychological organ, manifests an immense number of mental functions, and that there are no phrenological divisions in the brain, other than the anfractuosities of the convolutions, and that there are no simple primitive cerebral organs manifesting a pure special single function, unless we carry our subdivisions so far as to make a primitive organ of each constituent fibre of a convolution.

we may

"The number of cerebral organs which we may recognize is, therefore, a matter of arbitrary arrangement, as divide the brain, for convenience, into three, four, or five regions, or with equal precision and functional accuracy, into three, four, or five hundred. From fifty to a hundred subdivisions would be as many as we can learn to locate correctly, and is a sufficient number for practical purposes.

"It is established with equal certainty, that the brain is as much a physiological as a psychological organ, and that it maintains its sympathies with the body, and exercises its controlling power over it by means of certain conductor organs at the base of the encephalon, by which it radiates volitionary, circulatory and secretory influences to the muscular system and other tissues of the body. Eeach portion of the brain has an intimate relation or sympathy with its particular region of the body, and exercises a modifying influence upon the general circulation and innervation of the system. It is through the conductor organs that the special relations of the brain and the body are established, and all the physiological effects which may be produced by operating upon the brain, may be as easily, and, indeed, more promptly evolved by operating upon the corresponding conductors, which transmit their influence directly.

"Thus do we explain the relations of the brain to the body, and by carrying out the mathematical laws of cerebral physio.

I feel covetons.' To the question of Dr. Buchanan, why she felt covetous, the reply was I would wish to get means to make a display in the world." Placing her hands now, at the request of Dr. Buchanan, successively on the upper fore part and on the back part of Dr. Forry's head, she described the sensation of the former as mild and more agreeable and causing ennobling feelings, whilst that of the latter was unpleasant, but imparted strength to her system-phenomena which accord with the principles laid down by Dr. Buchanan. These experiments were repeated with similar effects upon the head of Mr. Bryant; but when she came to the region of skepticism, she suddenly jerked away her hand, saying I feel nothing.' This result, as Dr. Buchanan remarked, is a phenomenon that follows invariably.

"As Dr. Buchanan's system modifies very much that of the phrenologists, it may be here mentioned that his division of the functions of the brain, as delineated externally on the skull by certain regions, as those of skepticism, insanity, intoxication, temperance, levity, &c., is, for the sake of convenience, adopted in these minutes by the sub-committee, without intending to express an opinion as to the accuracy of all its details.

"These were the leading experiments, which were here cut short, as the lady was about leaving in a steamer for her home.

"CERTIFICATE—At the request of the committee, I would state that I am well acquainted with the lady above referred to, and well know her to be entirely unacquainted with phrenology, the location of any of the organs, or any of its principles.

"LEWIS WAKELEY,

"29 Greenwich street."

"Sub-committee met November 16th, 1842. Experiments on Mrs. R. Present, Messrs. Bryant, O'Sullivan, and Dr. Forry.

"Upon our arrival at the residence of Mrs. R. a lady of intelligence and respectability-whose health is generally delicate, we found her complaining of some chilly and uncomfortable sensations. Dr. Buchanan began by holding his hand for some time on the organ of calorification,' and silently placing his hand on the various portions of her head, which he thought might have a restorative effect. In the course of three or four minutes, her chilliness was removed, and her feelings were comfortable. Dr. Buchanan then remarked aloud that he would endeavor

to excite the organ which is the cause of perspiration, to such a degree as to produce a distinct moisture on her hands. In three or four minutes we found, on examining the hands, that they were perceptibly moist. His patient being now in an agreeable condition, he proceeded with other experiments.

"It is a part of Dr. Buchanan's theory that each finger is the conductor of a particular influence, such as the galvanic, electric, neurauric, &c.; and accordingly she describes the sensation produced by touching the ends of his fingers with her own, as very different in each one. Her descriptions correspond somewhat with the effects attributed to each of these agents. In the ring finger, she says there is a jerking motion,' which may be compared to the successive thrills caused by electric agency. On touching the middle finger, she avers there is produced a stiffening sensation of the wrist.' The index finger caused an effect, which she describes as stimulating and warming to the arm.

"Dr. Buchanan next attempted to excite mirthfulness by placing his finger on the region of that organ, and the result followed in a striking degree, three or four times successively. On her part, the tendency to laugh was irresistible, and she each time buried her face in her handkerchief until relieved by Dr. Buchanan. The result intended to be produced was in this, as well as the following instances, stated in writing, and the person operated upon was kept wholly ignorant of what was anticipated. It was now proposed that Dr. Buchanan should excite the organ of language, but in attempting to do so, his finger touched the locality of the adjoining organ of calculation, when suddenly Mrs. R. arose from her chair and commenced counting the flowers on the wall paper. Counting the number in a horizontal line, and then in a perpendicular one, of a side of the room, she would immediately announce the sum total. So completely engrossed did she become in this, that she took no notice of the bystanders further than as they interfered with her view of the wall. Her mind seemed entirely abstracted, as it were in a monomania of calculation. This experiment was repeated several times with the same effect. One time she wished to count the threads in a flower of the carpet.

"In the next place, Dr. Buchanan excited the organs of self-esteem, combativeness, and firmness, that of philanthropy, as he remarked, being naturally strong. The effect was truly remarkable. Under