f not by
the manner in which they characterize the constitution? Every human
being is distinguished by natural peculiarities, both mental and
physical. These are indicated not only by the color of the eyes, hair,
and skin, and the mental expressions, but in the conformation and
capabilities of the corporeal system. The color, form, size, and texture
of a leaf indicate to the expert pomologist the nature of the fruit
which the tree will bear, but how much more important is it to
understand the harmonies of human development. If Prof. Agassiz could
determine the form and size of a fish by seeing its scales, and Prof.
Owen outline the skeleton of an unknown animal by viewing a portion of
its fossil, why should not the physician understand the language of
temperaments, since it opens to him the revelations of human
development? The sculptor blends character with form, the artist endows
the face with natural expression, the anatomist accurately traces the
nerves and arteries, the physiognomist reads character, which the
novelist delineates and the actor personates, because there are facts
behind all these, the materials wherewith to construct a science. In
organization there are permanent forces which operate uniformly, thus
revealing the order of nature.

THE TEMPERAMENTS CLASSIFIED.

[Illustration: Fig. 80]

We propose to speak of four constitutional variations entitled to
separate consideration; the lymphatic, the sanguine, the volitive, and
the encephalic. The brain controls all the voluntary, and modifies the
involuntary functions of the body. A particular cerebral development
modifies the functions of all the bodily organs, and thus tempers the
constitution. We shall, therefore, base our classification of
temperaments upon the mental and physiological characteristics, which
are portrayed by cerebral development. Such an arrangement is
illustrated by Fig. 80.

THE LYMPHATIC TEMPERAMENT.

The lymphatic temperament predominates when the anterior base of the
brain and the middle lobe are developed so as to exert a preponderating
influence over the bodily functions. The character of this influence we
have described in cerebral physiology. It is difficult to state
precisely the normal influences and nerve-forces which arise from these
faculties, but it is evident that they are specially related to
nutritive attraction, in opposition to volitive repulsion. It is only
their excessive influence which produces wor