ART. II. THE FIRST NUMBER.

THE JOURNAL OF MAN has been issued at the present time, some months in advance of the regular period at which it is dated, in order to present the public a specimen number, which may illustrate its general character. It would be difficult, however, by the first number, or even the first volume, to give a proper conception of its scope, and the entire character of its subject matter.

When introducing a subject so novel and extensive as the science of Neurology, it must be impracticable to proceed at once with those diversified illustrations, essays, narratives, experiments, &c., which would constitute the main body of a periodical, devoted to the dissemination of a familiar science. It is indispensable that the first volume of the Journal should present a systematic exposition of the science itself. Until this has been given, its readers could not be equally prepared for the narratives of experiments, the philosophical disquisitions, the portraiture of character, and the general application of the principles of the science-in all of which we may expect to be engaged hereafter.

In the next number, a regular series of essays will be commenced, designed for the illustration of every department of the science, presenting, in a connected manner, its fundamental principles, the facts upon which it is based, and the methods by which each one may verify for himself, all that is taught by Neurology. These subjects will be illustrated by numerous drawings, representing the brain, the cranium, the cerebral organs, the relations of the brain to the body, the philosophy of attitude and physiognomy, and the relation of the different organs of both brain and body to each other.

An important feature of the Journal, hereafter, will be an application of the principles of the science, by means of the varied resources of Physiognomy, Craniology, and Psychometry, to the illustration of extraordinary characters. Biographical sketches, accompanied by a critical scientific analysis of character, and, when practicable, by suitable engravings, will furnish interesting and instructive matter for the general reader, as well as a practical illustration of the scope and bearings of the science.

The peculiar charm of these investigations, as they will be carried out in this work, lies in the fact, that we are not only enabled to determine the characteristics of men, by means of Physiognomy and Cranioscopy, but are also enabled, in many cases, to portray character with satisfactory accuracy, when the individual is beyond our reach. Whether living or dead, present or absent, he may be made the subject of scientific investigation. Even when his mor

tal remains have been entirely decomposed, and no statue, bust, cast, portrait, or memorial of any sort, has preserved his lineaments, the portrait of his character may yet be sketched, with satisfactory accuracy and, indeed, with far greater certainty than has ever been attained by practical Phrenology. The process by which this has been accomplished is, in some respects, analogous to that of Clairvoyance, but is simpler in its character, and independent of any of the processes of the Mesmeric experiments. Incredible as it may still sound to some, I have demonstrated, in many experiments, during the last six years, in the East, the West, and the South, the existence of this wonderful power, by which we may determine, positively, the character of any individual, whether living or dead, to whom this method of investigation may be applied.

In future numbers of this Journal, I hope to prove, to the satisfaction of all its readers, the existence of this power, and to show the vast range of its application. If science can thus establish a tribunal of character, which shall render an impartial and accurate verdict in all cases, the decisions of this tribunal must render important assistance, in establishing the character of the living, and in rendering strict justice in history. Whether the decisions of the science can be made infallible-whether our pictures of character shall exhibit, in all cases, the accuracy of the daguerreotype-depends, not upon the correctness of the fundamental principles, but upon our energy and success in putting them in practice. There is a process of Psychometry, or "soul-measuring," which has the accuracy of daguerreotypy, but which, like the daguerreotypic art, requires perfect accuracy in the instruments and processes adopted.

To render this matter suficiently clear, it will be necessary, in the first place, to explain the processes of Psychometry, and relate some of the experiments which have been made. I shall not only show the success of the experiment in my own hands, and among my pupils, but describe the methods of experimenting, so as to enable my readers to repeat them for themselves, and acquire a positive knowledge of their truth. In the second number of this Journal, the subject will be developed, and-however extraordinary these things may really be, or incredible they may appear-every reader, who has sufficient candor and love of knowledge to conduct the experiment, will be enabled to convince himself that I have not overstated the truth.

The course of our future illustrations can scarcely be defined as yet; but the general aim will be to select the most interesting spec imens of character. The prominent statesmen, heroes, and authors of America will receive due attention. Such men as Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Van Buren, Jefferson, Burr, Madison, Marshall, Adams; Generals Washington, Green, Arnold, Knox, La Fayette, Jackson, Scott, Taylor, Harrison, and the heroes of our naval service; our celebrated authors, Irving, Bryant, Whittier, Cooper, Emerson, Bancroft, Prescott, &c.; from the pulpit, Edwards, Channing, Campbell, Bascom, &c.; our celebrated inventors, as Fitch, Fulton, Whit

ney, Evans, Morse, and our scientific teachers-these, and their peers, may indicate the field of our investigations. The prominent politicians, orators, and literati of the old world, who, at times, attract public attention (the Lamartines, O'Connels, &c.), will often furnish subjects of investigation for the Journal, which, I hope, may prove as instructive, in a scientific point of view, as they will be acceptable, in supplying a variety of the most interesting reading matter. The contemporary statesmen, artists, and philosophers of Europe, will often furnish subjects of attention; and the deep interest with which we regard the names of those, who, though mo longer living, still exert their influence over increasing numbers of their race, will often invite to a critical survey of their historic characters and actual merits. The affectionate interest and reverence with which the names of many European writers, and other influential men, are regarded, will impart a peculiar value to the critical survey which I propose, of the personal and mental characters of such men as Gall and Spurzheim, Harvey, Hahnemann, Hunter-Kant, Locke, Brown, Butler, Chalmers-Scott, Byron, Burns-Bulwer and Carlyle-Bentham and Godwin-Swedenborg and Fourier-Luther, Melancthon, Calvin, Wesley, Whitfield, &c. There are many such names which I have in view, for future reference and illustration.

ART. III-WHAT IS NEUROLOGY?

THE JOURNAL OF MAN is designed to be especially the expositor of that science, which I have introduced to the American public, under the title of Neurology. The first question, therefore, with its readers, will be, "What is Neurology?" This term, as employed in this work, may be considered as nearly synonymous with "Anthropology," or "the Science of Man." Its use, heretofore, has been limited to medical works, in which it has borne a technical signification, embracing but little more than the anatomy of the nervous system. The term “Neurology" (compounded of νευρα or νευρον and λογος) signifies, necessarily, "the science of the nerves," or "the science of nervous matter." The brain, being the greatest mass of nervous matter in the human body, presents, of course, the greatest amount of material to the science of "Neurology," even in its most limited import. But, heretofore, so little has been known of the brain, and there has been so little philosophic knowledge of the functions of nervous matter in general, that the word "Neurology"

has suggested to the minds of medical men, rather an anatomical than a physiological science, and rather a science of the nervous cords and ramifications, than of the nervous masses and convolutions of the brain. But, since I have demonstrated the physiological and mental functions of the brain by direct experiment, it appears that the science of the brain is, by far, the most conspicuous and interesting portion of Neurology; and that the anatomy of the nervous substance, in all its divisions, interesting and wonderful as it is, bears no comparison, in interest, in magnitude, or in importance, with the science of the nervous functions. Thus, by the discovery of the impressibility of the brain, and the researches to which it has given rise, Neurology is changed from a mere anatomical description of nervous cords and masses, to a comprehensive science, embracing all the functions both of mind and body. Wherever we observe mental phenomena connected with a nervous structure, or nervous structures controlling the phenomena of life, so far does the domain of Neurology extend.

It is well known to all, that the functions of the body are directly dependent on the influence exerted by the nervous system. It is equally well known, that the brain is the governing portion of the nervous system. It is also well known and admitted, both by medical men and the public at large, that the brain is the organ of the mind, through which all our intellectual faculties and emotions exert their influence on the body, and through which all the conditions of the body exert their influence upon the mind-in which, in short, we find the center of man's existence, where his spiritual nature has its seat and appropriate offices for the performance of its various functions and for the control of the various departments of his body, from which the controlling influences proceed to sustain, impel, or check every physiological function, and through which the sympathies exist by virtue of which the various functions of the body manifest a harmonious action.

In short, to repeat this fundamental fact, the brain is the seat, the center, of man's conscious existence, in which all the transac tions of mind and life are represented. Strictly speaking, it may be said, that man has no conscious existence in his body beyond the brain. It is in the brain that he sees, hears, tastes, smells, and feels. It is in the brain that he feels hunger, thirst, fatigue, pain, and pleasure. The impression of light upon the eye is not vision, until that impression has been referred to, and recognized by, the brain. The impressions of sound on the ear (as we miscall the vibrations that cause the sensation) do not constitute hearing, until those impressions are recognized at the seat of consciousness in the brain. An exhausted condition of the muscles of our limbs does not constitute fatigue, until the sensitive nerves have transmitted corresponding impressions, through the spinal cord, to the brain.

It may appear strange, at first, to those unacquainted with physiology, to affirm, that, in reality, it is neither the eye that sees, nor the ear that hears, nor the hand that feels; but that seeing, hearing,

and feeling are all transacted in the brain. Yet these truths are so familiar to all anatomists and physiologists, that I should not have adverted to them at all, but from the probability that these pages may frequently fall into the hands of readers, who have but little knowledge of anatomy and physiology. For their sake, permit me to illustrate this proposition by a few familiar facts.

Every part of the body derives its power of sensation from the distribution through it of sensitive nerves, proceeding from the pos terior column of the spinal cord, and, through that, connected with the brain. When these nerves are in an excited or inflamed condi tion, they give the part of the body, to which they are distributed, an extraordinary sensibility, so that the slightest touch will produc acute pain. But, when they are compressed or benumbed in any way, cut or tied, they no longer carry impressions to the brain, and the parts to which they are distributed become insensible. slight compression of the nerves of the lower limbs, produced by sitting in a peculiar posture, often renders the feet quite insensible.

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If the back bone should be broken by a fall, and the spinal cord crushed and compressed at the point of fracture, parts of the body below this compression would become utterly insensible and impotent-not only insensible to pain by the compression of the sensitive nerves, but also paralyzed and incapable of motion by the compression of the muscular or motor nerves. The spinal cord contains the nerves both of motion and sensation; and, when it is divided or compressed, all parts of the body below the division or compression lose both motion and sensation. A man, in whom the middle of the spine has been injured, so as to compress or crush the cord, would be entirely unconscious of having a pair of legs, if he did not see them or touch them with his hands. If the injury to the spinal cord were inflicted sufficiently high up on the back, near the head, the whole body would become instantly and totally paralyzed and insensible.

Thus, we perceive, that all voluntary movement comes from the brain, through the nerves, and that all sensation takes place in the brain, in consequence of an impression carried to the brain by the nerves. But, as the brain, in reality, feels the sensations in itself, it may produce the various feelings, or sensations, independently of the nerves. Thus, in certain excited conditions of the brain, when its action becomes disordered, we see objects which have no existence, hear sounds which have not been uttered, and experience sensations which are entirely deceptive. A familiar illustration of the latter remark is found in the fact, that many individuals, who have had a leg or arm amputated, still continue to feel strange sensations in the lost limb, as it appears to them. Ten or twenty years, perhaps, after a leg has been amputated, the person experiences the same sensations in his leg or foot, as when it formed part of his living body. The same rheumatic or neuralgic pains in lost limbs. may seem to continue to afflict the patient, which he endured in them, as he thought, while they were attached to his body. These