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Innateness.

ALIMENTIVENESS.

The first inquiry to be made, in refer

ence to Alimentiveness, as well as all other organs, is

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this, Does such a distinct feeling exist, or is it a manifestation of several feelings combined?

The nerves of the stomach and palate give the sensations of hunger and thirst. But those are merely disagreeable or painful sensations. They alone would not, unaided, lead us to desire food any more than a pain of the head would lead us to desire a medical prescription. A knowledge, that food would cure the one and a prescription the other, might lead the intellect to the conclusion, that it would be beneficial to make the application. But this would be very uncertain, and presupposes that every one will be able to choose what is best for himself. Fools and infants could not have this power, yet they desire food. The truth is, an Allwise Creator has not left a regularly returning want for the sustenance of life to the uncertain suggestions of the individual's intellect to determine. There is an instinctive desire of food active in the infant anterior to experience or instruction. The same instinct also guides the brute in the selection of food. When well regulated, it is very little active except during meals; and then it exhausts itself, so as to become quiet like any other instinct. This is usually simultaneous with relief from hunger, but it sometimes begins earlier and continues much longer. Facts. I noticed the organ distinctly developed in an infant child of a Mr. The head was large and the child precocious, scull unquestionably very thin, so that the organ was obvious to every one.

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tice but one other case, which has come under my own observation. I saw a female, Miss B- who is at the Retreat for the Insane at Hartford, Connecticut, and who is constantly talking about food, running over in her mind, and speaking audibly of every variety of dish, she can think of, and the modes of cookery. This is the same at all times, - not more so when hungry than at other times. Neither is she very dainty about her food, nor does she crave more than others. It is simply the engrossing subject of her thoughts, from morning until night. And on her head the organ is large, with moderately developed surrounding organs, so that there is no mistaking it.

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Location.* The organ is supposed to be located at the base of the brain, against that part of the scull, just above and before the ear. In the maniac just mentioned, that part of the scull was remarkably prominent. She is in the department of the incurables, and her head may be examined at any time.

I have for some time regarded the organ as established; and from the different modes in which I have seen it manifested, I am disposed to regard it as the propensity, which, when active, tends to excite thoughts of food, and a desire for it, independent of sensations of hunger or thirst. It is usually most active, when the sensations of hunger and thirst produce an uneasiness. Hence we feel the desire most at those regular periods, when we gratify it simultaneously with the gratification of our appetite.

* The cuts and engravings, illustrative of the location and relative size and form of the organs, will be found in the practical application of the science, in a subsequent part of the work.

A knowledge of the analysis of this feeling gives us a direct clue to the best mode of cure for the habitually intemperate. Intemperance usually results from, or is accompanied with, disease in the organ. In such case the organ has acquired a morbid action, which keeps the mind in contemplation of thoughts upon favorite stimulants, with their accompaniments. In order to cure the predominant and diseased activity of the organ, we must adopt not only those remedies, which will restore general health to the system; but also excite into predominating action the higher sentiments. The change is a moral Further remarks on this may be suggested in an

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Innateness. Is there such a primitive disposition or propensity in man, or beast, as to excite thoughts and incline to acts of destruction, without regard to object or manner? Phrenologists maintain the doctrine that there is; and they rely for proof on the customary tests. It is found to characterize some animals and not others. The hare never destroys. Carnivorous animals all delight in destruction, as the lion, tiger, &c. It manifests itself very early. Put an article in the hand of a child, and it will either put it to the mouth to gratify alimentiveness, or strike it upon the floor to destroy it. There is the greatest variety among individuals in this trait of character. When regarded in its full extent of operation, these differences will appear quite remarkable. If active in harmony with the higher sentiments, it leads us to a desire to destroy error, vice, evil customs, &c; and we notice a great dif

ference in the actions and desires of individuals in Some too manifest the propensity in

these respects. the grosser forms, by slander, foul language, pinching, scratching, biting, cutting, breaking, stabbing, strangling, demolishing, burning, drowning, poisoning, and murdering. Is not this the sustaining spirit of riots, mobs, wars, and revolutions? I have seen repeated instances of its deranged manifestations. The average measure of heads from destructiveness to destructiveness is about 5 inches. I saw a dead man, who had been deranged, and had concealed himself in the woods in the winter, and there was found frozen. His head measured at destructiveness 67 inches. The basilar region was all large. The organ was large in Teller, who was hung at Hartford, for killing the keeper of the States Prison at Weathersfield, Connecticut. I have seen his scull, and the organ was larger than it appeared externally, as the scull was very thin against the organ.

The facts, by which this organ has been indirectly proved, are exceedingly numerous. A great number are recorded by Drs. Gall and Spurzheim, and the writers in the Edinburgh Phrenological Journal. Scarcely a day passes without witnessing some new facts. The portraits of Bishop, Williams, and M. G. Gottfried also show the organ large.

When the organ is large, and with average surrounding organs, it may be ascertained by carefully running the hand from the ear upward. The head will be very thick through from side to side, when all the side organs are large, and destructiveness among the rest.

Discovery.—The organ was discovered by Dr. Gall. He was first led to notice the difference between the

heads of carnivorous and graminivorous tribes, the former having more brain just back of the ear than the latter. He could, by inspection of the scull, as well as teeth, tell to which genera an animal belonged. He was presented with the scull of a parricide, and of a highwayman, who had murdered as well as robbed. Between these he noticed a striking similarity just above the ear. He then noticed a similarity in the crania of some others in his collection. The thought occurred can there be a propensity to kill? He shuddered at the thought. But this did not drive him from his search after truth, relying upon this great principle, that it is always safe to search for truth, and that all truth is consistent with itself. The feeling, as now analyzed, will be recognised as an indispensable part of our nature. It was at first seen only in its abuse. Let it be remembered, once for all, that good and bad are terms applicable, not to faculties or organs, but to actions and feelings arising from them.

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Uses of the organ. Sudden death is a law of our Creator. One animal destroys another, and one becomes the food of another. Dr. Franklin was led to give up his scruples about eating animal food, from the fact, that one fish lived upon the destruction of another. No one will deny, that brutes are destined to sudden death, and that they are instinctively inclined to destroy; and man would be a victim to this instinct, and unable to maintain his supremacy, unless he too had the same principle. With destructiveness manifesting itself in the eye, and in the natural language, man becomes terrible to every ferocious animal. I have seen the lion's keeper in his cage, but the keeper's eye gave forth its destructive

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