The best form for a surgeon who attempts the most severe operations is the round build of body and head, and many of them are of this shape. The muscular system should be supreme, with the brain system a close second, the bony and thoracic systems about equal and next in development.
The muscular tissue is comparatively unfeeling—insensitive;
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in the body. Form and Size are also requisite to aid the memory of the shape and relative position of each part, and to assist Locality. Human Nature is essential in order that he may be en rapport with his patients, and also to enable him to divine instinctively all bodily and mental states. He should be a good physiognomist, and be well versed in the pathology of physiognomy. He must have large Observation, in order to take cognizance of the most minute changes and appearances. Calculation is a useful trait also, as it is required in many ways in the medication and treatment of the wounded, as in chemistry and in making surgical implements, etc. He should have large Friendship; in order to attach his patients to him and to command their esteem; enough Benevolence to sympathize, but not enough to weaken the feelings when severity is required. The faculty of Amativeness is necessary to comprehend the nature of the opposite sex; Love of Young also, that he may inspire children with love and confidence.
The sense of Weight should be a strong one, for the muscular sense is dependent upon its power in order to gauge the amount of force to be used in handling instruments and in bandaging wounds, limbs, etc. Executiveness is required to assist authority and give resistance. Self-will is another ally most necessary, as well as Analysis, Time, Order, and Reason. A fair share of musical ability is required to assist the ear in making examinations of the heart and lungs, and in auscultation for various other purposes. If to these faculties one adds large Intuition, he has a fine bodily and mental equipment for the practice of surgery.
OTHER CLASSES OF SURGEONS.
Many army surgeons are characterized by a round and broad form, with broad, rather low, and round heads; short, round arms, and round and tapering fingers. This build is the most suitable for those severe operations which require the greatest exhibition of force, endurance, and coolness; another class of surgeons—those who undertake the more delicate and less forceful operations—are characterized by about an equal development of the brain and muscular systems. This class of surgeons tend naturally to the treatment of those finer, less difficult, and more delicate cases of operative surgery, such, for example, as treatment of the ear, the eye, etc. This class of surgeons require a fine endowment of the brain and nervous system. In short, the muscles as well as nerves of this class must be sensitive to a great degree, and this combination calls for a fine and high organization.
The surgeon should be something of an actor in order to know when to be sympathetic and when to be severe. Yet he