The Illustrated Self-Instructor in Phrenology and Physiology

by O. S. Fowler; L. N. Fowler

Your first observation should be made upon TEMPERAMENT, or organization and physiology, with this principle for your basis: that when bodily texture or form is coarse, or strong, or fine, or soft, or weak, or sprightly, the texture of the brain will correspond with that of body, and the mental characteristics with that of brain. Still, it is not now our purpose to discuss the influence of various temperaments upon the direction of the faculties.

The second observation should be to ascertain what faculties CONTROL the character, or what is the dominant motive, desire, object, or passion of the person examined; in phrenological language, what faculties predominate in action; and it should here be observed, that the relative size of organs does not always determine this point. Some faculties, though very dominant in power, cannot, in their very nature, constitute a motive for action, but are simply executive functions, simply carrying into effect the dominant motives. For example, Combativeness rarely ever becomes a distinct motive for action. Few men love simply to wrangle, quarrel, and fight for fun, but they exercise Combativeness merely as a means of obtaining the things desired by the other dominant faculties. Few men have for their motive the mere exercise of will—that is, Firmness is generally exercised to carry into effect the design of the other faculties; and instead of subjecting the other faculties to itself, simply keeps them at their work, whatever that work may be. And thus of some other faculties. But Amativeness, Friendship, Appetite, Acquisitiveness, Benevolence, Veneration, Conscientiousness, or Intellect, Constructiveness, Ideality, or the observing faculties, may all become dominant motives. And it requires much phrenological shrewdness to ascertain what single faculty, cluster, or combination of faculties, leads off the character.

Let us take, then, for our starting point, the outer angle of the eye, and draw a line to the middle of the top of the ears, and Destructiveness is exactly under this point, and it extends upward about half an inch above the top of the ears, and in proportion to its size will the head be wide between the ears. And if Secretiveness be small and Destructiveness large, there will be a horizontal ridge extending forward and backward, more or less prominent, according to the size of this organ.

Three quarters of an inch above the middle of the top of the ears, Secretiveness is located. When this organ is large, it rarely gives a distinct projection, but simply fills and rounds out the head at this point. When the head widens rapidly from the junction of the ears as you rise upward, Secretiveness is larger than Destructiveness; but when the head becomes narrower as you rise, it is smaller than Destructiveness.

To find these two organs, and their relative size, place the third fingers of each hand upon the head just at the top of the ears; let the lower side of the third finger be even with the upper part of the ear; that finger then rests upon Destructiveness. Then spread the second finger about one eighth of an inch from the other, and it will rest upon Secretiveness. Let the end of your longest finger come as far forward as the fore part of the ears, and they will then rest upon these two organs.

Take, next, this same line, starting from the outer angle of the eye, to the top of the ears, and extend it straight backward an inch and a half to an inch and three quarters, and you are on Combativeness. This organ starts about midway to the back part of the ears, and runs upward and backward toward the crown of the head. To ascertain its relative size, steady the head with one hand, say the left, and place the balls of your right fingers upon the point just specified letting your elbow be somewhat below the subject’s head, which will bring your fingers directly ACROSS the organ. Its size may be ascertained partly from the general fullness of the head, and partly from its sharpness, according as the organ is more or less active; yet observers sometimes mistake this organ for the mastoid process directly behind the lower part of the ears. Remember our rule, namely: a line drawn from the outer angle of the eye to the top of the ear, and continued an inch and a half or three quarters straight back. Follow that rule, and you cannot mistake the position of this organ; and will soon, by comparing different heads, be able to arrive at those appearances when large or small.

To find Philoprogenitiveness, extend this line straight back to the middle of the back head, and you are on the organ; and in proportion as the head projects backward behind the ears at this point, will Philoprogenitiveness be larger or smaller.

About an inch, or a little less, directly BELOW this point, is the organ which controls MUSCULAR MOTION; and in proportion as this is more or less prominent, will the muscular system be more or less active. Those who have this prominence large, will be restless, always moving a hand or foot when sitting, and even when sleeping; will be light-footed, easy-motioned, fond of action, and willing to work, and possessed of a first-rate constitution. But when that prominence is weak, they will be found less fond of physical action and labor.

To return to Philoprogenitiveness. Three fourths of an inch ABOVE this point, Inhabitiveness is located. When this organ is large, and Continuity is moderate, there will be found a prominence somewhat resembling an angle of a triangle, with the angle at the middle of the head, together with a sharp prominence at this point. But when Inhabitiveness is small, there will be a depression just about large enough to receive the end of a finger, with the bow downward. An inch on each side of this point is Adhesiveness. Or thus: taking the backward termination of that line already drawn, erect upon it a right-angle triangle; let the right angle be on Philoprogenitiveness, and the two sides which inclose this angle be about an inch and a half or three quarters each, and the other two angles will be on the two lobes of Adhesiveness—the hypothenuse, or long side, being about two inches, or two and a half inches, in length. When Adhesiveness is large—especially if Inhabitiveness and Continuity be small—there will be found two swells, somewhat resembling the larger end of an egg; but if small, the head will retire at this point.

Directly above Inhabitiveness and Adhesiveness, Continuity is located. When small, a depression resembling a new moon, with the horns turning DOWNWARD, surrounding the organs of Inhabitiveness and Adhesiveness, will be found. When Continuity is large, however, there will be no depression, nor any swell, but simply a FILLING OUT of the head at this point.