Modern studies on the brain

The brain is a part of nature in animals of all descriptions, and the subject of experimental inquiry.

The modern period is defined as a time after the beginning of the industrial revolution, which is dated at sometime about 1800.[1]

A distinction between humans and brutes

Locke wrote A Treatise on Human Understanding, in which he commented:

the power of abstracting is not at all in them;and that the having of general ideas is that which puts a perfect distinction betwixt man and brutes, and is an excellency which the faculties of brutes do by no means attain it
— John Locke[2][3]

Primitive state

The early form of brain in Homo sapiens,[4] as it exists in foetal life is precisely similar to the brain in a fish, as it exists in its permanent adult state (1828).[5]

Acephali

Monsters destitute of brain, are frequently born strong and fat, several of them live some time after birth (Spurzheim 1825).[6]

Fishes

The lancelot or amphioxus

The fish was stated to hardly possess a brain, by Darwin (1872).[7]

As food

In discussing the belief that "fish contains certain elements which are adapted in a special manner to renovate the brain and so to support mental labour", a prominent physiologist says: " There is no foundation whatever for this view" (1898).[8]

Theory

Insanity

A rotary swing, which causes vertigo and nausea, was proposed by Darwin as a theoretical treatment for insanity (1833).[9]

... practitioners who have put the proposal to the test of experiment have, if we are not mistaken, in most instances been convinced of its utility. Among these may be mentioned Dr. Wake of York...
— quoted in J Forbes page 861

Experiments

Tortoise

The brain of a tortoise is extremely small. In an experiment involving removing the brain of a land-tortoise, the tortoise carried on to live six months, fresh-water tortoises, when subject to the same experiment continued, but did not live so long. When the head of a tortoise was cut off a tortoise entirely, it lived for 23 days (1831).[10][11][12]

Greenland whale

According to Rudolphi, the brain of a full grown Greenland whale (Balena Mysticetus) seventy-five feet long, weighs only 5lbs. 10oz 4drs (1843).[13] In the same publication of 1843, Metcalfe states:

We have no accurate information on the weight of the brain of a sperm whale, which measures eighty-four feet in length

A frog in coitus

Jean Cruveilhier took a male frog when in coïtu and removed its head, the frog continued in the act in respect to muscular motion, seemed to progress nearly as well as prior to being deprived of its head (1849).[14]

Homo sapiens

Properties of 1819

The nature of the substance of the brain and nerves has not yet been satisfactorily ascertained (1819).[15]

Experiments on the nervous system of man and animals

M.Flourins performed experiments on these, and his findings were published in Italy 1819 (republished in France 1822).[16]

1834

Phrenology certainly admits of proof or disproof, and would obtain it if the measurements of a sufficient number heads, and those belonging to persons of marked qualities of mind, could be accurately and indisputably known
— Dr Prichard (1834)[17]

the course of the medullary fibres

Rolando discovered the course of these. Drs Gall and Spurzheim had given an explanation of this already (1835).[18]

anatomical discoveries with regards to the functions of the brain

The works of Froriep, Bischoff, Ackermann, Walter, professor at Berlin; Walther, professor at Bonne; Blɶde, Muller, Meyer of Naples, Démongeon, all appeared before 1807. On the fourteenth of May 1808, the Institute of France was presented with a memoir containing anatomical discoveries (1835).[19]

1844

...From the age of Galen, or perhaps or perhaps from that of Hero-philus and Erasistratus, down to the present time, the hypothesis has been maintained with little variation, that the brain presides over the body through the spinal mar-row and the nerves...
— Sir Charles Bell – 1844[20]

Phrenology

Was not discovered by dissection of the brain; but by observing the agreement between the disposition of homo sapiens and the lower animals, and the forms of their heads. The brain was afterwards dissected, and its structure examined with great care, in the hope it would shed some light on the subject. We are indebted to phrenology for all useful knowledge concerning the anatomy of the brain (1857).[21]

1871

writers...as far back as Hippocrates, knew all that was necessary to know, in a merely physiological point of view, of the lungs, the liver, and the stomach, and attributed to them the proper function...The brain, however, was a terra incognita – an unexplored and unknown region till the Columbus of the mental world, the great Dr. Gall, added its broad fields to the domains of science.
— Samuel Roberts Wells – 1871[22]
When we come to the nervous system, including the brain, the organ through which mind is manifested, we seem to approach the verge of another world
— Samuel Roberts Wells – 1871[23]

Cromwell, Byron, Cavier

Through thorough investigation it was discovered that these people had the heaviest brains (1876).[24]

References

  1. ↑ J Dewald – The Early Modern Period Library of the University of Vermont [Retrieved 2015-05-25]
  2. ↑ David Page – Man: Where, Whence, and Whither?: Being a Glance at Man in His Natural History Relations – 53 Moorhead, Bond, 1868 [Retrieved 2015-3-28]
  3. ↑ Philosophical beauties selected from the works of John Locke T.Hurst 1802 [Retrieved 2015-3-28]
  4. ↑ A. Rauber – Homo sapiens ferus: oder, die Bustände der verwilderten und ihre bedeutung für wissenschaft, politik und schule Julius Bregse, 1888 [Retrieved 2015-3-27]
  5. ↑ The Westminster Review, Volume 9 Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1828 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  6. ↑ J G Spurzheim – Phrenology: Or, the Doctrine of the Mind (31) Publication:Treuttel, Wurtz & Richter, 1825 [Retrieved 2015-3-27]
  7. ↑ C Darwin – The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Volume 1 (196) D. Appleton, 1872 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  8. ↑ C. F. Langworthy – Fish as Food (22) U.S. Government Printing Office, 1898 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  9. ↑ J Forbes – The Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine: Comprising Treatises on the Nature and Treatment of Disease, Materia Medica and Therapeutics, Medical Jurisprudence, Etc. Etc. Eme – Isc, Volume 2 (page 860-861) Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper, 1833 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  10. ↑ Georges Cuvier (baron), C Hamilton Smith, E Pidgeon, J E Gray, P A Latreille, G R Gray – The animal kingdom arranged in conformity with its organization, Volume 9 (p.54) Printed for G. B. Whittaker, 1831 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  11. ↑ The London Literary Gazette and Journal of Belles Lettres, Arts, Sciences, Etc H. Colburn, 1831 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  12. ↑ W J Broderip – Leaves from the Note Book of a Naturalist (p.83, left column) published by E. Littell & Company, 1852 [Retrieved 2015-3-26](...In the beginning of November he opened the skull of a land-tortoise, removed every particle of brain, and cleaned the cavity out...instead of dying or remaining motionless, it groped its way about....)
  13. ↑ S Lytler Metcalfe – Caloric: Its Mechanical, Chemical, and Vital Agencies in the Phenomena of Nature, Volume 2 (596) W. Pickering, 1843 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  14. ↑ The Lancet, Volume 1 (321) J. Onwhyn, 1849 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  15. ↑ Time's Telescope – Introduction – xxxvii[Retrieved 2015-3-28]
  16. ↑ FJ Gall – (117) published by Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1835 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  17. ↑ The Phrenological Journal and Miscellany, Volume 8 (650) Proprietors, 1834 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  18. ↑ FJ Gall – (117) published by Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1835 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  19. ↑ FJ Gall – (119) published by Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1835 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  20. ↑ Sir Charles Bell – The Nervous System of the Human Body: As Explained in a Series of Papers Read Before the Royal Society of London INTRODUCTION 2 Renshaw, 1844 [Retrieved 2015-3-27]
  21. ↑ Frederick Bridges – Phrenology made practical and popularly explained (38) Sampson Low, Son, & Co., 1857 [Retrieved 2015-3-27]
  22. ↑ Samuel Roberts Wells – 97–98[Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  23. ↑ Samuel Roberts Wells – New physiognomy, or Signs of character, as manifested through temperament and external forms and especially in "the human face divine" American Book Company, 1871 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
  24. ↑ I Wise – The Cosmic God first published Applewood 1876 [Retrieved 2015-3-26]
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