Francis Jeffrey's Theory Of Phrenological Analysis

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Many young medical professionals were attracted to the possibility to study the mind beyond only introspection, but despite the popularity phrenology received, there were always critics refuting its scientific merit. The rise and legitimization of phrenology coincided with the previously described Victorian attempt to standardize requirements for an acceptable scientific theory, but its fall around the 1840’s was not a surprise. Even among phronological circles there was a lot of disagreement; the number of faculties ranged from 27 to 40 depending on the theorist.36 After arriving in Britain to lecture, Spurzheim was only brought to the international stage when Dr. John Gordon publicly ridiculed phrenology for being illogical, stating that it based its practice on presumptuous claims; he began his 1814 Edinburgh Review article with a harsh assessment:
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In 1825, Francis Jeffrey 's review of Combe 's System of phrenology dealt a heavy blow to phrenologists. Jeffery took a firm stance in anatomy, arguing that, “the sensibility of ... organs depends on the nerves which belong to them—on the optic and auditory nerves, for example, as to seeing and hearing, or on the nerves of touch for many other sensations.”38 Although he did agree that all of these nerves “terminate or originate in the brain,” he sustained that there was no way to prove that certain parts of the brain that are “appropriated” for these faculties. He argued that the nerves were the true organs of the senses: “The nerves belonging to each of these senses seem, on the contrary, to form its only material organ; since, without them, whatever be the state of the brain, we can neither see, hear, or feel.” 39 He concludes, with a sentiment of inevitability, that phrenology was so ludicrous it would have burnt out quickly even without his review, but he found it necessary to publish it because he felt those who were practicing it were

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