Transcript of Phrenology (Book 1) by George Burgess

THE SCIENCE OF HUMAN NATURE

It is universal law of nature that form is a sign of character.  All vegetable seeds similar in shape, produce similar fruit.  All animals are alike in character, exactly as they are alike in form.  It is because form is the universal and unerring sign of character, that we can tell at a glance which dog is vicious, and which is harmless; which animal has the nature of the lion, and which the nature of the lamb.  So, all human beings are alike in character, exactly as they are alike in their complete forms.  The external is developed by the internal; and the outer form is the true expression of the inner spirit; hence all beings carry their character with them, written outwardly on every feature of their complete organization.  But the complete character of person cannot be perfectly read from the body, or face, or head, singly – to discover the whole character, it should be remembered that when the signs of self-love and kindness are both prominent, the action of each quality is modified in the character.  This principle must be applied to all the faculties.  But the more prominent signs always show that their faculties are controlling in their influence.  Training and education are also influence the manifestation of the faculties, and this fact must be taken into account by those who would read character correctly.  This book in only intended to describe the science of character very briefly, but after reading about one thousand five hundred persons a year, since January 1861, the writer can state that the Principle of the Art of Reading Character as explained in this book is correct; allowing, of course, that the hair, complexion, &c., do not indicate character so accurately as the form of the face and the head – for the HEAD is the crowning portion of the human organization.

HEALTH

Stomach – Good digestion is the sign of a vigorous nature, and a tendency to be happy.  A proper development in the region of the stomach, and a healthy look, indicate goo digestive capacity.  Indigestion is a sign of physical inefficiency, and a tendency to complain.  Hollow cheeks and a stomach show a tendency to indigestion.

Heart – A healthy circulation of blood is a sign of warmth in the body and mind, and it is accompanied by a steady and firm pulse.  A weak circulation of blood is a sign of languor; and it is accompanied by an irregular, feeble pulse.  Very dark veins indicate sluggish liver. 

Lungs – Good respiration is a sign of physical endurance; and is indicated by a good full chest, and a healthy colour.  Weak respiration is a sign of physical debility; and it is indicated by a small chest, and a delicate look.

Skin – Healthy perspiration is a sign of a healthy, active nature; and it exists when the skin looks clean, clear, and healthy.  A sluggish, or excessive, or unhealthy perspiration is a sign of physical ailment somewhere; and it exists when the skin is dry and scaly; or cold and clammy.

Brain – A healthy nervous system is a sign of calmness of feeling generally, and mental vigour so far as the mind goes; and it is indicated by a composed expression, a generally healthy appearance, and a body and brain well balanced.  An unhealthy nervous system is a sing of doubts and groundless fears; and it is indicated by a troubled, gloomy, anxious expression.

Health – Health can only be perfect when all the physical organs and brain act in a healthy manner together.  They are sympathetic – the brain, the heart, the lungs, the stomach, &c., all affect each other in their action; and the nature of an individual will be feeble or vigorous, exactly in proportion as the general constitution is weak or strong, or healthy or unhealthy.

TEXTURE

Fineness – Fineness of texture in the organization is a sign of a fine, susceptible nature; and it is indicated by fine and beautiful hair, skin, &c.

Coarseness – Coarseness in the organization is a sign of a coarse, rough, or rugged nature; and it is indicated by coarse hair, skin, muscles, &c.  But coarseness does not mean wickedness, and fineness does not mean purity; for the one who is rough in texture is just as likely to be good and generous, as the one whose texture is fine.

GENERAL FORM

Measurements – The average stature of a man is 5 feet 8 inches; and his chest is 36 inches round.  The average stature of a woman is 5 feet 3 inches; and her chest is 31 inches round.

Stature – Tallness, accompanied by thinness, is a sign, as a rule, that the physical nature is more elevated, than gross and earthy.  And a very short form, spreading largely over the earth, and living down near the earth, is a sign of an earthy nature.

Size – Great size round the chest, about the shoulders, and the vital parts generally, is a sign of physical stability and power.  A small chest indicates but limited bodily power.

Bone – Large bones are a sign of a firm bodily framework; and often some stiffness in the physical movements.  Small bones indicate bodily softness, and little capacity for bodily work.

Muscle – Muscle is lean flesh.  Large muscles are a sing of much muscular strength, and physical elasticity.  Small muscles indicate deficient muscular strength, with bodily inefficiency.

Flesh – A fat form, if healthy, is a sign of capacity to heartily enjoy the material pleasures of life.  Its owner can enjoy ease, or a busy managing life, but will not like close drudgery.  A thin skinny form indicates a tendency o by chilly, and but limited capacity to enjoy the animal pleasures of life.

Shape – A very flat form is generally a sign of physical infirmity.  A square, angular form indicates physical hardness, and an angular nature.  A round form is a sign of strength – it is self-protecting, like a round spire against which the winds of heaven strike and glance off again without injuring it.

Perfect – A healthy, handsome, beautiful, or perfect physical nature, which qualifies its owner to properly enjoy all the natural physical pleasures of life.

FEET

Large – Large feet indicate rather slow physical movements, and a plain, unaffected, general character.

Small – Very small feet, when their owner is healthy, and properly trained, are a sign of a busy, lively nature; but they seldom belong to a person of a great mind.

Arched – An arched foot, if not extreme – is generally a sign that its owner has much personal attraction.

Flat – Very flat feet, especially if broad, are a sign of a monotonous flat nature. 

Ugly – Very ugly feet, when naturally so, are a sign of an unattractive general nature.

Beautiful – A beautiful foot, in size, is an exact proportion to the other physical parts; it is beautifully moulded; and is a sign of a very attractive person and nature; and it indicates great susceptibility to refinement.

Walk – A quick step shows a quick nature; a slow step walk shows a slow nature; an irregular walk shows an irregular wandering mind; a straight walk shows a direct mind, with an easy, graceful, erect, perfect walk, shows a graceful, uniform nature, with some pride in it.  People always walk exactly as they feel.

Corns – Corns often turn a naturally beautiful foot into an ugly one; and make a person walk awkwardly who would otherwise walk gracefully.  If the young would never begin to wear crooked boots, “rights and lefts,” they would never be troubled with corns.  Not one in a thousand can use crooked boots without soon searing them down on one side of the heel, so as to topple over.  This causes extra pressure and friction against special parts of the foot; the extra pressure can friction produce painful corns; the painful corns cause their owner to hobble, and limp, and walk ugly; and this continued horrible limping ultimately produces a deformed and ugly foot.  Anatomically, and physiologically, crooked boots are a mistake; for a foot that is not deformed is almost perfectly straight, as a whole; hence only a straight boot will allow of uniform pressure all over the bottom surface of the foot during walking.  Science then, and experience, shows that straight boots, of the size to be comfortable , changed from foot to foot every day, are the only right and proper boots to be worn by a person who would have no corns, but a graceful walk, and a neat and beautiful foot.

HANDS

Long – A long thin hand indicates subordinate animal power, and little physical strength. 

Short – A short, thick hand is a sign of physical compactness and firmness.

Square – Square tipped fingers, of uniform size from hand to tips, are a sign of a uniform, plain, matter-of-fact nature.

Rough – A naturally rough hand is a sign of a rugged rough nature, although its owner may be both wise and good.

Smooth – A smooth, soft hand, with rounded fingers, shows an even, easy, and loving nature.

Beautiful – A beautiful hand well-proportioned to the general form, with slightly tapering fingers, and a tendency to roundness, is a sigh of capacity to be attractive and charming in manner and person.

Shaking Hands – A cold heated person shakes hands in a cold icy manner.  A warm-hearted person shakes hand in a warm, hearty manner.  A proud person shakes hand in an unbending, proud manner; and a vain person shakes hands with much ceremony, in order to be complementary, but more especially in order to be complimented.

NECK

Long – A long, thin neck does not too closely connect the body with the brain; and it is a sign that the question of animal pleasures does not absorb much of the mind.

Short – A short, thick, bull-neck very closely connects the body with the bran, and it indicates a strong desire to gratify the various animal wants.

Perfect – A perfect neck is in size and length proportioned to the4 size and length of head and body; and is a sign of a nature able to properly enjoy all the animal and mental pleasures of life.

EARS

Rough – A rough, heavy ear indicates capacity to appreciate the more powerful and grand musical, and other sounds. 

Fine – A fine, delicately formed ear is a sign of capacity to detect and enjoy the more fine, tender, and exquisite musical sounds, and tones of voice.

Projecting – Projecting ears, standing out as it were to catch the coming sounds, are considered to be the best hearing ears.

Jaws – Heavy, square jaws are a sign of native physical endurance, and strength of character in some direction.

Light – Light, tapering jaws are a sign of physical deficiency, and probably some weakness of character otherwise.

Round – Rather round, perfect, finely formed jaws are a sign of a well-balanced physical and mental character by nature.

CHIN

Large – A large projecting chin is a sing of great life power; and its owner will be capable of long life unless acquired or hereditary diseases prevent it.

Small – A small, retreating chin indicates a tendency to be feeble in the general constitution.

Hard – A hard, awkwardly formed chin is a sign of a hard, unloving nature.

Dimpled – A dimpled chin is a sign of a loving and lovable nature.

Beautiful – A beautiful chin is rather full, finely formed, and nicely rounded; and it indicates a nature for enjoying pure and healthy social, domestic, and marriage love.

MOUTH

Small – A small delicate mouth is a sign of susceptible feelings; and it is often accompanied by an acute but not a great mind.

Large – A properly large mouth indicates a strong, natural and distinct character in some direction.  Its owner is not always wise, but all great orators have rather large mouths.

Closed – A mouth uniformly and tightly closed on ordinary occasions, indicates a closed-up nature.  Its owner may have no desire to be secretive, but will be too reserved to please inquisitive people.

Open – A uniformly open mouth shows an open character, and too little prudent reserve, for it is generally waiting already open to freely take and freely give.

Down – A mouth turned down at the corners is a sign of gravity, and not, too much blandness.

Up – A mouth turned p at the corners indicates love of mirth and pleasantry.

Perfect – A perfect mouth is neither too close nor too close open, in good proportion to the other features, and finely formed; and it is a sign of much personal agreeableness.

VOICE

Light – A light voice indicates a negative nature.

Heavy – A heavy voice indicates a powerful nature.

Plaintive – A plaintive voice indicates a dependent nature.

Rough – A rough harsh voice shows a rough, harsh spirit.

Smooth – A smooth, even voice indicates a smooth, uniform nature.

Winning – One with a beautiful, winning voice, has an agreeable disposition, and is ‘bound to win’.

Noble – A fine, full, clear, noble voice indicates much that is fine and noble in the physical and general character.

TALK

Rapid – Very rapid talk shows an impetuous nature.

Slow – Very slow talk indicates a slow, heavy, or languid nature.

Regular – A regular mode of talking shows a methodical and regular mode of thinking.

Irregular – Irregular talk shows irregular thought.

Plain – Plain talk shows a plain, matter-of-fact character.

Ornamental – A fanciful, ornamental style of talking shows an imaginative or fanciful nature.

Perfect – A calm, intelligent, properly emphasized, and perfect mode of talking, shows a clear mind, with much thought and good sense.

LIPS

Thick – Very thick, fleshy lips, are a sign of a rather dull gross nature, and of some indolence in the disposition.

Thin – Very thin, keen-cut lips are a sign of a thin, keen, cutting, peculiar nature.

Calm – Naturally calm firm lips, are a sign of a calm, firm, composed nature, with deliberation and courage.

Restless – Naturally restless lips shows a restless spirit, and they generally belong to an uneasy individual.

Beautiful – Beautiful lips are red, rather full, and beautifully turned; and they are a sign of a lovable and loving nature; the owner of such lips could enjoy kissing, with some one.

NOSE

Breadth – Great breadth of the nose as a whole indicates good original breathing powers, and a narrow pinched up nose indicates small lungs, and limited breath.

Sharpness – A sharp-cut pointed nose is a sign of sharp feelings and perceptions; and a blunt nose, heavy and dumpy at its point, indicates a blunt, slow nature.

Length – A long, out-standing, pointed nose, indicates a keen sense of smell, and a penetrating, progressive mind.  A very short nose indicates but limited originality of mind; although when sharp and well shaped, if often accompanies a versatile and artistic nature.

Snub – A diminutive snub nose is a sign of a common-place mind.

Hollow – A uniformly hollow or concave nose, is a sign of some weakness in the body and spirit.

Arched – An arched nose indicates strength of character somewhere.  When arched and prominent above, just below the root, it is a sign of courage, and a spirit to conquer.  When especially arched in the centre, it indicates a self-defensive spirit; and when the nose is especially hooked at the lower end, it indicates a spirit to get – sometimes money, &c., but it will hook up something.

Perfect – A perfect nose is nearly straight, well-set, well proportioned in itself, and in relation to the face as a whole, and it indicates capacity to appreciate refinement, elegance, culture, art and beauty.

EYES

Large – Large well-formed eyes are a sign of versatile observation and vivacity of feeling.

Small – Small eyes, if healthy and clear, indicate far sighted vision, and a shrewd mind so far as it goes.

Bright – Bright eyes, in health, are a sign of a bright nature.  If bright and quick in motion, they indicate a bright and emotional nature; but if bright and slow in motion, they indicate a bright, calm, and uniform nature.

Dull – Dull eyes are a sign of a dull nature.  The hog with its dull eye, is dull and stupid.

Black – Black eyes indicate depth and power of nature.  Black-eyed people are not the most demonstrative at first, but when thoroughly moved their feelings, like hidden fire, will burn with great power and intensity.  There is more mystery in a black eye than in one of any other color.

Brown – Brown eyes show much depth of feeling, and often much tenderness.  Black and brown eyed nations are slow to change their national customs; and as compared with light-eyed nations their physical nature predominates.

Hazel – Hazel eyes, in a healthy well-formed person, indicates a nature capable od and inclined to enjoy a proper share of almost every natural and true pleasure in life.  They often belong to poets, and summer rambles by the brook-side and nature’s glories light them up with poetic fire.

Blue – Dark blue eyes, in a well-trained person, indicates a warm loving nature, and their owners delight in being regarded with tenderness and love.  Light blue eyes, in a well trained, healthy person, indicates an exceedingly warm and glowing nature, accompanied by candor and enthusiasm.  Their owners are ardent and trustful, and sometimes too easily misled, but they mean well.  Nations where light blue eyes mainly abound, are the highest of any in mental and spiritual development.

Beautiful – Beautiful eyes are of various colors – dark, medium and light – are well-set and well-proportioned to the general physiognomy; have gently arched eyelids, and shine with a steady, calm lustre, and they are a sign of a beautiful nature within.

FACE

Short – A very short, cramped-up face is a sign of a short, cramped up dull nature.

Long – A face naturally long is a sign of a thinking mind, and shallow observers often pronounce its owner sad, instead of thoughtful.

Flat – A very flat slow face is a sign of a flat slow nature.

Keen – A very keen, cutting face is a sign of a quick, keen spirit.

Round – A very round, even face, in a healthy person, shows a round, even nature, that will not fret much.

Square – A square-built face is a sign of an angular and distinct character.

Oval – An oval face is generally a sign of an amiable and pleasing native character.

EXPRESSION

Permanent – Permanency of expression arises from the general and permanent physiognomy.  If the expression is naturally disagreeable when the features repose, there is an unpleasant nature behind it.  But if the expression is naturally agreeable when the features repose, there is an agreeable nature behind it.

Variable – Variableness of expression arises from exercising special muscles of the face at different times, according to the varying emotions of the mind.  By an effort, a disagreeable person can assume a partially agreeable expression for the occasion; and one with a naturally agreeable expression, when unpleasantly excited will display a partially disagreeable expression for the time being; hence, it is the permanent expression only, when the face is reposing, that corresponds with the natural inner character.  But a skilled physiognomist can always discover whether an expression is natural or assumed.

COMPLEXION

Dark – A dark, healthy complexion is a sign of depth and power of feeling.

Sallow – A sallow complexion shows that health should be attended to.

Red – A very red, fiery complexion is a sing of false health-conditions, and irritable, fiery passions.

Light – A light, clear complexion shows appreciation for refinement and taste.

Fair – A fair complexion, with the cheeks beautifully tinged with the glow of health, indicates a tendency to be frank, fair, and beautiful in manner.

Beautiful – A beautiful complexion may be of any healthy color, and it can only be obtained, or preserved, by using plenty of water internally and externally, by facing healthy breezes, and by strictly living for health.

HAIR

Dark – Dark hair is a sign of deep and powerful emotions.

Brown – Brown hair is a sign of much deep feeling.

Auburn – Auburn hair shoes a nature capable of appreciating the poetical and sentimental.

Sandy – Sandy hair shows a soul with fire in it.

Light – Very light hair indicates a nature to appreciate the spiritual.

Straight – Very straight hair shows a tendency to be uniform in manner.

Curly – Very curly hair indicates a fanciful, enthusiastic nature, and frequently a curly temper.

Coarse – Very coarse hair indicates some bluntness of character.

Fine – Very fine hair shows fine, sensitive feelings.

Flat – Hair that naturally lies very flat over the head is a sign of a rather negative, dependent nature.

Upright – Stiff upright-standing hair shows a direct, positive nature of its king, with a fearless out-spoken spirit.

Beautiful – Beautiful, healthy hair may be preserved by washing it often in pure water; and brushing and dressing it well without artificial aids.

BEAUTY

Personal Beauty may exist in a form of any size, so that it is well-proportioned in regard to stature, size, bone, muscle, flesh, and size of head and face.  The mere bodily form and conditions simply indicate the amount of physical perfection and beauty one has.  The form of the face and head is a sign of the amount of animal, mental, and moral perfection and beauty possessed.  The law is universal, that beauty without is produced and expressed by beauty within.  All pure and beautiful beings, as the angels, and Jesus, are represented as being personally beautiful, and wicked beings are represented as being personally ugly.

By a natural instinct, we avoid ugly people; but seek, admire and love those who are beautiful.  The reason is – an ugly face is a sign of an ugly nature at the root; while a perfectly handsome or beautiful face is a sign of a fine and beautiful nature at the root.  A plain face often looks pleasant and good, because it has a few pleasing points in it, produced by correspondingly pleasing points of character within.  And a mainly beautiful face is often spoiled because it has a few forbidding points in it, corresponding with a few unpleasant points within.

Perfect – A perfect face, from the point of the chin to the nose, from the point of the nose to the eyebrows, from the eyebrows to the top of the forehead will be three equal parts.  The nose is nearly straight; and the mouth, lips, eyes, &c., are all in harmonious positions and proportions to the face as a whole.

A Handsome Man’s face is firm, and slightly angular in form.

A Beautiful Woman’s face is smooth, and rather oval in form.

Personal Beauty can only be secured, or preserved, by perfecting the health, and the whole mental, social, moral and spiritual nature.

HEAD

Size – Size of head, other things being equal, is the measure of brain-power.  The average size round man’s head is 22 inches; round woman’s, 21 inches.  The weight of man’s brain is from 40 to 50 ounces; of woman’s, from 35 to 45 ounces.

Skulls – The thicker the skull, the less brain in proportion to the size of the head.  Persons with the largest bones have the thickest skulls.

Small – A uniformly very small head is the sign of a weak brain.

Large – A healthy and uniformly large head is the sign of much brain-power.

Long – A long head, properly shaped, indicates a long out-reaching mind.

Short – A uniformly short head shows a short mind, and but limited foresight.

Broad – a head uniformly broader in its base than above, shows that the physical nature predominates.  A head uniformly broader above than in its base, is a sign that the higher and elevating parts of human nature predominate.  When the whole back half of the head is broadest, it shows that the executive and self-sustaining element predominate; and when the whole front half of the head is broadest, it shows the intellect predominates.  Breadth and fullness of the cerebellum, at the base of the brain behind, indicates the strength of the social, domestic, and sexual qualities.  Breadth behind the ears is a sign of physical courage.  Breadth just before, and about the ears, is a sign of self-love.

Narrow – A uniformly narrow head is a sign of deficient force and power, although people with narrow heads are often brilliant.

Low – A uniformly low head indicates that the nature will mainly operate in the lower, or material sphere.

High – A uniformly high head shows a correspondingly high and elevated nature.  When highest in the crown, it shows pride and authority; when highest in the centre it shows respect, reverence, and spirituality.  When highest in the front, it shows humanity and loving kindness.

Round – A uniformly round head, is the sign of an even, round, easy-going nature.

Square – a uniformly square head shows a distinct, square nature with corners to it.

FOREHEAD

Small – A very small forehead is a sign of a small, diminutive intellect.

Large – A large, well-shaped forehead shows a large amount of native talent.

High – A high, full forehead is a sign of ability to study mental and moral subjects.  But  a high, very shallow forehead shows but little talent of any kind.

Low – A low forehead, if deep and full, shows good native ability to understand material and commercial operations.  But a forehead very low and very shallow, shows neither talent nor tenderness.  Reason comes from the upper, and Observation from the lower half of the forehead.

Memory – A good memory is indicated by fullness up through the central line of the forehead, and especially by prominence at the lower half of that line.

Brow – When the brow is heavy, and drawn close down over the eye, it shows closeness of observation.  When the brow is full, nicely arched, and slightly elevated, it shows versatility and clearness of observation.

Square – A square, full forehead shows a mind that likes time to see into matters.

Sharp – A sharp-cut forehead can see the idea at a glance.

Perfect – A perfect forehead is full, and slightly receding.

A perfect man’s forehead is slightly angular.

A perfect Woman’s forehead is rather oval, and finely rounded.