Where the profile outline of the forehead is perpendicular, the muscular system will be dominant, or one of the dominant systems, and the heart and stomach, both of them muscular organs, will be more powerfully developed. This outline shows the dominance of the involuntary muscles.

In this case the chest will not be so arched as in the former combination, and the nostrils not so large, but the eye will be larger and the forehead more rounded at the sides, and the jaw more curved outwardly.

the

Thus each feature expounds and reveals the peculiarities of structure of the trunk, as well as of the limbs, hands, and feet, and these in their turn announce to the close observer the shape of the features and the moral and mental characteristics.

Lavater has made some excellent observations upon this feature which I quote as corroborative of my own views. He remarks:

straight-lined foreheads; 2, those whose lines half-straight, half-curved, run into each other; 3, foreheads with simple curved lines; 4, those with double or triple curved lines. Let us now establish some particular observations: 1. The more lengthwise the forehead is, the more destitute is the mind of energy and elasticity. 2. The closer, shorter, and more compact it is, the more concentrated, firm, and solid is the character. 3. Contours arched and without angles determine in favor of gentleness and flexibility of character. This, on the contrary, will possess firmness and inflexibility in proportion as the contours of the forehead are straight. 4. Complete perpendicularity

from the hair to the eyebrows is a sign of a total want of understanding. 5. A perpendicular form, gradually arched on top, announces a mind capable of much reflection, a staid and profound thinker. 6. Prominent (bulging) foreheads belong to feeble and contracted minds, and which will never attain a certain degree of maturity. 7. Sloping backward indicate in general imagination, spirit, and delicacy. 8. In order to constitute a perfect character of wisdom there must be a happy association of straight and curved lines, and besides a favorable position of forehead. The association of lines is favorable when they imperceptibly run into each other. 8. I rank among the most judicious and the most positive characters the square foreheads, whose lateral margins are still sufficiently spacious, and whose eye-bone is at the same time very solid.*

Elsewhere he remarks, quoting from Claramantine:

A square form of forehead is the sign of superior talents and sound judgment; for it arises from the natural figure of the head. It likewise contributes to the knowledge and prudent conduct of affairs. Many illustrious persons have been distinguished by this form of head.

From Mr. de Permetty Lavater extracts the following:

The forehead large, square, and open, announces a person of understanding and good sense; of quick comprehension and capable of advising well, for it is such as it ought to be, having the best proportioned form and the most adapted to facilitate the functions of the soul.

From Gratalones Lavater takes the following:

Those who have a great forehead are dull; they may be compared to Square foreheads of moderate size, well proportioned to the head, show virtuous, wise, and magnanimous character; class them with lions.

oxen.

There appears in the writings of all the ancient physiognomists a preference for the square form of forehead as illustrative of the highest character. Now, had they ever classified upon the "Basic Principles of Form," and learned the inherent meanings of the arch or curve as well as of the square and angle, they would have found the highest expression of the artistic mind revealed by the curve and oval, and the highest type of the scientific and prac tical by the square and angle, each of which produce two diverse types of excellent character, but each unsuited to fill the place of the other in their respective fields of labor.

Circular foreheads belong to the purely vegetative individual, half-curved to the artistic; but all foreheads, unless they are purely square or perfectly round, present interblendings and combinations of these several elements of Form, and must be judged accordingly in each individual case. Many modifying circumstances affect each of these forms. Quality is one modifying element; activity of the circulation, or the dominance of the thoracic system, another. Muscular development is yet another circumstance to be taken into

* Lavater's Essays, vol. iii, p. 324. London edition, 1787.

consideration before a perfect judgment of a given character can be arrived at. My advice is to postpone sentence until the evidence is all in; this is sound law, and will apply as well to lawful physiognomy.

THE HEAD.

I did not intend in this work to give any attention to the cerebral part of the anatomy, although its form, size, and appendages are highly indicative of mentality, and reveal and corroborate the signs of character found in the physiognomy and body. Yet, as phrenology uses the head as the foundation and groundwork for its theories of mind, and endeavors to expound all characteristics by inspection and measurement of its outlines, I shall refrain from giving any extended description of the forms and meanings of this noble member. My main reason for this course is that I desire my readers to become perfectly convinced that the face reveals the entire mental and physical character without any reference whatever to the form or size of the head.

The entire character may be known also without any reference to the forehead, with the exception of the lower part just above the brows; yet, as the general observation is turned to inspection of the whole frontal development, I have decided to give a limited space to a description of its most general forms, although this is not essential to a complete and correct physiognomical knowledge

of character.

As I stated in the theoretical part of this work, my belief that the mind is not shut up in the skull, but diffused throughout the entire body, and manifested only by the co-operation of all its parts, and as I showed that the office of the brain is limited to its own peculiar share in mental manifestation, and as the other parts of the organism are concerned in producing what are termed "mental efforts," as in art, science, mechanism, etc., and as I have demonstrated that the face reveals the entirety of the personality, it would be a waste of time to make any extended description and analysis of the brain or skull.

In the first place, the brain upon dissection gives no clue by its structure as to its office or purpose in the human economy, as do the visceral organs by their structure and connections.

In the second place, the general form of the exterior of the skull can be ascertained by reference to the general form of the face, the features, or by examination of the fingers even. In this manner the dominant powers of the individual are revealed, for a square head shows the presence of moral, scientific, and mechanical ability; the round head, the vital and artistic organism. A full

knowledge of the encased mind can only be had by observation of the face, the hand, the voice, the walk, the movement and gesture, aided by the light which the laws of scientific physiognomy throws upon them. Observation of the head and knowledge of its size is not at all essential to this result. Neither can the weight of the brain nor measurement of the skull before or after death give positive and thorough knowledge of the indwelling mind.

Its form will greatly facilitate this object, for form and quality are the supreme factors in, and of, all structures. A knowledge of the meanings of the forms of the fore part of the brain-the forehead-is very useful in our investigations of character, for this portion of the anatomy belongs to the face as well as to the brain. Comparisons of the form of the head and of its size in relation to the development of the lungs which accompany each individual subject are also of use, not so much in revealing character as for the purpose of disclosing energy. Disproportionately large heads, particularly of the fore part, denote slowness, if not dullness, of both the intellectual processes and bodily movements, while a small head allied to large lungs gives the utmost energy of both the mental forces and bodily movements. In the former case the driving power of the mind is absent, viz., large lungs and a copious and constant supply of well-oxygenated blood. A disproportionately large front brain acts slowly because it has not the assistance of a sufficient supply of normal blood to give it vivacity, while a small or undersized brain, if accompanied with large lungs, acts readily, and the limbs follow its promptings with a rapidity of movement in accordance with the supply of the blood and the rate of its circulation, which is much faster, of course, with large lungs and small brain, than where the forebrain is large and the lungs disproportionately small.

The reason why some large heads have exhibited great powers, as in Daniel Webster for example, is because they have been associated with a large thoracic development and a vigorous visceral organization and dense color, as well as an excellent muscular and osseous system. In organizations such as his, many things besides a large brain are essential to true greatness, for, in addition to all these grand physiological gifts, Webster inherited a fine and high quality both of brain and body. When all these circumstances are happily united in one individual, the world is blessed with a transcendent genius which leaves humanity in debt for his gifts, for he endows future ages with a splendid legacy that increases in value as the centuries roll by.

My theories on this subject are strengthened by observations made by the most original investigator in phrenology which

America has produced. I refer to J. S. Grimes. He connects his observations in this direction with a theory which, however original and unique, I do not indorse, for the reason that I have not given it sufficient study to do so. At the same time I say nothing in opposition to it, for to deny what one cannot disprove is unfair, to say the least; and, as I have no repugnance to his theory, and nothing to offer in opposition to it, I give it to my readers for their further investigation.

Mr. Grimes remarks thus:

I have lately made an observation which seems to me to be of considerable importance. It is that the largest and most vigorous lungs are generally accompanied with moderately-sized heads; the form of the head in such cases is also peculiar, the upper parts of the head being less developed than the lower, the forehead being generally retreating. On the other hand, the very reverse is true of persons whose lungs are small; that is to say, their heads are generally larger and the upper parts more developed than the lower, being in some degree like those which we call rickety. I strongly suspect that this discovery will lead to important results when it comes to be fully explained. I will venture to suggest an explanation: The reason of small lungs being often accompanied with a large head is that the small lungs and imperfect respiration are the cause of the brain growing larger, for the brain is the organ of motion, and it can only produce its motions by means of oxygen, which oxygen is furnished through the lungs by combining with the food from the stomach. If the stomach and lungs do not furnish blood sufficiently charged with oxygen to enable the brain to produce the necessary motions, the motions must become less to correspond with the quality of the blood. Under these circumstances larger brain will be equivalent to larger lungs, just as in galvanic operation a weak and adulterated acid, when applied to a large surface of zinc plates, will produce as powerful effects as a more concentrated acid applied to a smaller zinc surface. Now the question is, Does not the brain tend to grow larger and to extend its surface when the blood is weak, adulterated, and imperfect in consequence of indigestion, badly-ventilated rooms, and imperfect respiration? Is not this the cause and explanation of rickets? It is admitted by physicians that rickets originate in indigestion and imperfect respiration, but why should this cause the brain to grow so large? Why do not the hands or feet grow large as well as the brain? I answer that the brain being the phreno-galvanic fountain of motion, and being deprived of concentrated and oxygenated blood, it extends its surface to avail itself of a large quantity of imperfect blood, and thus it is that the same causes which produce imperfect blood produce rickety-shaped heads.*

Mr. Grimes' theory of the brain as an organ of motion is unique, and I here give it as worthy of reflection, at least. He observes :

My theory of the temperaments is very simple; it is that the office of the brain and nerves is to move the bones and muscles, and that the brain and nerves are, therefore, antagonistic to the bones and muscles, or, in legal parlance, it is bones and muscles versus brain and nerves. The principal

* Phreno-Geology, J. Stanley Grimes, pp. 68 et seq. Boston, 1851.