O.S. Fowler on temperance, founded on phrenology and physiology, or, The laws of life, and the principles of the human constitution, as developed by the sciences of phrenology and physiology, applied to total abstinence from all alcoholic and intoxicating drinks / by O.S. Fowler.

  • Fowler, O. S. (Orson Squire), 1809-1887.
Date:
©1842, 1844
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: O.S. Fowler on temperance, founded on phrenology and physiology, or, The laws of life, and the principles of the human constitution, as developed by the sciences of phrenology and physiology, applied to total abstinence from all alcoholic and intoxicating drinks / by O.S. Fowler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/36 (page 16)
    But “counsel” depends upon the reasoning organs, which, being located in the upper portion of the forehead, retain all their pristine vigor long after both the physical energies, and with them the animal passions, are weakened by age. This principle explains the fact that the passions, the appetite, the Amativeness, the ebulitions of anger in young men, are often ungovernable, while in after life, these very men become ornaments of society and eminent for talents; that the wildest boys generally make fhe smartest men; that solitary confinement and hard labor, by reducing the tone of the body, subdues the pride, obstinacy, maliciousness, and other vicious inclinations of convicts, and that the talents often increase after the body begins to fail, after ambition wanes, and long cherished animosities begin to weaken. So also the memories of children and youth are astonishingly reten¬ tive and vigorous, whilst those of aged persons are enfeebled, but the judgment of the latter is strong, whilst that of the former is weak, because the organs of memory, being in the base of the forehead, are vigorous vdien the body is vigorous, and become enfeebled by age, but those of judgment are in the upper portion of the forehead, and there¬ fore partake less of the weakened state of the body. A severe fit of sickness, when it leaves the body in an enfeebled state, is sure to weaken most-kinds of memory, whilst it seldom impairs the judgment. Prob¬ ably half of my readers have experienced the truth of this remark, and scores of cases could be narrated in which improved health has strength¬ ened the memory. Again: hunger is highly promotive of anger, whilst fullness of bread promotes kindness. Thus when a man comes home hungry, he is highly irritable, cross, and displeased with every thing; but if you wish to break unpleasant news to any one, or to obtain a special favor, take him after dinner. When well fed, the ferocious animals are tame and harmless, but when hungry, their ferocity is ungovernable, and their destructive¬ ness lashed up to the highest pitch of fury. So the ferocious Indian, when he wishes to kindle his thirst for war and blood to the very climax of rage and revenge, fasts a week. Now ivhy should the irritated state of the stomach, and thereby of the body in general, excite to morbid action the animal propensities merely ? Why should not hunger increase the flow of kind, of conscientious, and of devotional feeling, instead of anger, revenge and ferocity ? This principle contains the answer. After delivering this lecture in Smithville, N. Y., an elderly deacon stated that he had experienced the truth of the above principle. He said that he had been once so very sick that he and all his friends expected every breath to be his last, that he had no desire to live, no regard for his wife and children, although both before and since it was particularly strong, not the least ill will against any one, though before he had felt hard towards several, no regard at all for property, and not a worldly feel¬ ing left, although in the entire possession of his intellectual and moral faculties, and perfectly conscious of everything that occurred. He was also able to reason and think, though unable to speak. On the return of health, his animal feelings returned. Dr. Vanderburgh, of New York, relates the following fact. A patient of his by mistake took a preparation of potash, which gradually and in about eighteen months, terminated his life. It first neutralized his love