g to the posterior part of the
brain and posterior part of the body. The posterior half of the brain
acts in the opposite direction, and thus draws in, acquires, and
energizes. The posterior action impels the body to advance, as the
anterior portion checks our progress and causes us to yield. Hence if
we erect a perpendicular from the ear, we shall find all the energetic
impelling faculties behind it, and all that moderates, checks, and
enlightens before it. Thus the occipital development makes a powerful,
domineering, conquering character, as the frontal makes a passive,
unselfish, yielding one.
Hence all organs in proportion to their energy are located nearer to
the posterior region of the brain, and in proportion to their delicacy
or weakness have a more anterior location.
[Illustration]
There are four classes of pathognomic lines, as there are four aspects
of the brain, which may be represented on a plane surface, and which
are sufficient for this incomplete introductory statement--the
anterior and posterior--the superior or upward, and the inferior or
downward. The anterior and posterior tendencies may be separated by
the vertical line through the ear. The superior and inferior, or
upward and downward, may be separated by a nearly horizontal line from
the forehead backward, which nearly coincides with the lateral
ventricles that separate the superior and inferior convolutions. The
lateral ventricles (cavities the walls of which are in contact,) are
the central region of the brain around which the convolutions are
formed. Dividing the brain thus into superior and inferior halves, we
find that the major portion of the superior has an upward line which
is fully expressed at the upper surface of the brain, while the lower
half has downward lines which are most fully expressed on the basilar
surface of the brain, which is covered by the face and neck.
Intermediate between these coronal and basilar surfaces are lateral
organs which participate in the upward or downward tendency as they
approach the highest and lowest surfaces.
The tendency of the coronal region is upward, that of the basilar
downward. The latter operates downward upon the body, rousing the
muscles and viscera to activity, but exhausting the brain and the
spiritual life. Hence, while they vitalize the body, they are the
source of all that is sensual, violent, beastly, and criminal,--all
that degrades human nature,--when they become the controll
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