Section VII. OF THE FUNCTIONS. (Part 2)

lungs, &c. continue for a considerable time in a state of relative smallness. From the combination of these circumstances, a kind of metamorphosis is effected between birth and manhood. The age of increase is terminated about the twenty- first, or sometimes not till the twcnty-firth year, when all growth in height is at an end, and the organization is perfect. Bcforu Ibis period, the oi^ns of generation, and certain parts which are influenced by them, undergo a most remarkable and sudden change. The time when this change occurs, marking the development of puberty, la greatly influenced by the climate, and by the sex and constitution of the individual. The inhabitants of warm climates are more precocious than those of colder regions. Thus, in the hotteet parts of Africa, Asia, and America, girls arrive at pubertj' at ten, or even at nine, years of age; but in France and England, not till fourteen or fifteen : whilst in Sweden, Russia, and Denmark, the menstrual discharge is from two to three years later in its appearance.* Women attain the age of puberty one or two years sooner tlian men. In botli sexes it may * " The period of puberty cannot be eucily defined ; it nrinwiOi cli- tntlc and lemperaniciit, liul u gmicrBUy more mrly in lli' f^railei to tbU IB our cliiaile, ^'(1* rri<rc at puberty ubout the flflc-nlh yvm, ind young mn, on ihe GODliwy, about (be tiii:nrielh."—Blitmcniac/i, £{. ^ thy. .|h S2S> See ftlw tiM NolM of Ui. Elliotwn. p. £29. g2 S4 TUI AOE OF MATURITY. r be coDsiderably delayed, from tltc effects of debility and disease. The external signK of pulierty are erident and decided. In the male, the oi^ns of jreneration are p-eatly deve- loped, and they are surrounded by hair; the voice be- comes fuller, more grave and sonorous, ibc lurynx nl thin period being much enlarged ; the chin is now fiu-nishcd' with beard, and the skin losing its softness, and acquiring B deeper hue, is co^'ered with hairs, especially in the arm- pits, on the anterior surface of the chest, and on the lower extremities. The whole body grows, and . its individual parts begin to a.ssume their proper proportions ; the swelling of the muscles and the projections of the bones art- detined, and tbe entire frame acijuires a more deter- mined character. In the female, as in the male, the genitals arc deve- loped and are covered with hair ; the breasts are en- larged and full : the pelvis is augmented and the hips separated ; and the body becomes more fidl and rounded, thus giving to the form a peculiar grace and elegance. The larynx is but slightly enlarged, so that the voice still retains its softness, The skin preser^'es all its de- licacy, and its whiteness is even increased. The power of procreating is posi^ssed, in our climate, by the male till the tifty-fifth or sixtieth year, whilst in the female it does not reach beyond the forty-fifth ; these limits are occasionally extended. In those countries where puberty begins sooner, the capability of generat- ing ceases at an earlier period, The second period of human existence, or that of ma- turify, extends in men from tlie twenty-first to the ffixtieth year; in women it epds at about the fort)'-fifth ; it is obvious, however, that this is a very general calcu- latioD, to which there are numerous exceptions. In this THE AOE OF DECAY. 85 age, the orgonizulion of the body han become perfect. The process of ossification is completed ; the muscles hare their firmness increased and their power augmented ; and the digestive. rfSipimtory, vascuUr, and nervous systems, have attained their last stage of formation. The perfection of function corresponds to that of organ- ization, so that it is during this long inten.-al thai man enjoj-8 the plenitude of his existence. To the period of maturity succeeds that of old age, in which the body, losing the structure which is so admir- ably adapted to its mode of existence, begins to fall into decay, its weight is diminished in consequence of tlie absorption of the adipose and other fluids. The skin is wrinkled and dry ; the limbs become sharp and angular ; the eyea are sunk in the orbit, and the cornea loses its lustre : the cheeks fall in, and the nose and chin are pro- minent and approach each other, in consequence of the loss of the teeth and the absorption of the alveoU. The solidity of the organs h much increased ; the bones be- come brittle, and the muscles hard and rigid ; the mem- bran&s are condensed, and the glands are often indurated; the arteries are very trecjuently thickened or ossified, and thus are rendered less contractile ; the veins conse(|uently become overloaded and distended with an unusual cjuun- tity of blood. Lastly, the texture of the nervous system is altered ; the fibres of the brain and ner^-es being in- creased in firmness. These change-s are produced by the deposition of solid and earthy substances in those struc tures which originally consisted of more fluid material.s, till at length, the solidity of the different textures is so groat, as to be incompatible with the performance of those operations on which the continuance of life depends. Tliis outline of the successive changes which the siin^^ INPLUENCB OF TBS SIXUAL OBOANS ^ ]^e continuance of life produces in the oiifanization of our frame, proixs, thnt, by the natural course of events, the matmals of the body arc so altered as to be inca- pable of exercising their proper actions. This deterio- ration does not depend on any accidental circumtitonces ; it is a condition of animal existence, the continuance of which inentably causes its own dissolution. I shall now proceed to the consideration of those nw- difications, which the organization of the body presents, in the two sexes. They principally, but not entirely, relate to the organs of generation. Thes«, in the com- mencement of life, arc not so dissimilar to each other, as they are at a more advanccil period, %'iz. that of pu- berty. At this time the characters of the two sexes are strongly marked, although there is still an analog)' Ims twc#n them. Thus tJie penis resembles the clitoris, the testicles may be compared with the ovaries, ami even the spermatic cord with the round ligament of the uterus. So great indeed is the similarity, that the sex is ascertained with difficulty in the early period of the foetal formation, and a dlight fault in the organization, or an undue development of some of the parts, may cause a doubt as to the sex even in the adult. In ad- dition to the differences which exist in the organs of generation, there arc many others in the general form of the l>o<ly, and in the proportion of its parts. Man p08.scsse3 a large and robust liody, which is stamped with all the attributes of strength and power ; the muscles are greatly developed ; the bones have large and projecting procL'Hswi ; the skin sets close to the parts beneath, owing to the deficiency of the cellular tissue ; these cir- cumstances conjoined, give to the mnscidine frame a rude but decided character. In woman, on the con- ON THB 3TBUCTU8B OF THB BODY. 87 trary, every part U soft and delicate. The predominaucc of the cellidiir and adipose tissues towards the surface of the body, softens down the projections of the muscles ; and the absence of all osseous asperities gives to the limbs those rounded ond graceful forms, which are, at the same time, the characteristic and tlie ornament of the sex. 'Vhe fvmide t^kiJeton it; readily distinguished by its comparative diminutiveness and lightness. The chest U shorter, but proportionally deeper than 'm man ; the pelvis, on the contrary, is in every respect more capaci- ous, and in all its proportions, it has endently a relation to the functions of the organs which it contains. The external chaructcrs appear to depend in an espe- cial manner, on the existence and perfection of the te-stes in the male, and of the ovaria in the female. The ablation of these parts previous to puberty, or their original malformation or deficiency, almost entirely pre- -onts the development of those sexual peculiarities which have been just mentioned. There are uiidoubtcilly ex- ceptions to this rule, but they arc strictly exccptioas. Castration will even, to a certain extent, produce in one sex the characters of the other : the ovaries were re- moved in a woman at Bartholomew's hospital; she af- terwards grew thinner and more muscular ; her breasts shrunk away, and she ceased to menstruate. The ab- sence of the uterus only, docs not prevent the individual from acquiring the general characters of ttic sex, nor docs it destroy desire. The changes produced by the imperfection of the ge- nital oi^puw, is still more remarkable in some bird-s. It was noticed by Mr. Hunter, that the female bird some- times acquires a plumage considerably resembling that of the malu, and he supposed that tliis metamorphosis OF THE TCMPERAMEKTS. wmt connected with the age of the bird, and that it only occurred when she ceased to lay. Mr. Y&rrell.who has prwitnted a paper to the Royal Society, on the change of pluina(;L- which the hen-pheasant occasionally cxpe- rienccH, has found that it docs not depend on age, but that it is connected with some disease or imperfection of the ftexital organs. He further observes, that when iIicm; organs are imperfect in either male or female, the nexen upproxiinate so much, that it is ditticult to dbtin- guiHJi between them. The history of the temperaments and idiosyncracics heloHf^ rather to the province of tUc phvMologist than to tliat of the anatomist, because it is principally the func- tion)!, and VKpeciidly the intctloctual, tliut determine thdr cbumclent ; but n» there are original modilications of the orpinir-ed .structures which correspond with, and prolmbly cause, at least in part, the mental manifesta- Uonii, I consider it advisable to offer a few obserMitions on Uiese peculiar! tieit. Tliw name of tempernments is applied to certain phy- ■icnl am) moral ditferences in men, depending on origi- nal peculinritieH which exist in their organs, and on the comparnliw enerpv with which these exercise their func- lionn, When thcM' peculiarities exist in one indindual only, the term of idiosyncracy is employed. The niu'ientjt established four temperaments corres- pondiii)( to the four ciualitics of Hipi>ocrates — hot, cold, muixt, and drj*. ThcKc cpiatities were tliouglit lo give apecilic chHmcters In the four humours, the blood, the yrilnw bile, the black bile, and the phlegm. According lo the ri'sjKftive predominance of these fluids, tltc san- guine, the biliuuN or rholeric. ihr melancholic, and the plitr|fHtfttic teui|H-ranienLs were founded. This doctrint DE»CRIPT10N OF TUE TEMPEUAMBNT8. continued to be fuUowed, with some few alterations, till a very recent period ; and even at this time the same terms are employed, although the principles of the humoral pa- thologj' have fallen into disrepute. It is not necessary to dwell on the modifications, which modern physiologists have introduced into the theory of tlic Ancients.* I shall therefore confine myiself to enumerating the de^^a- lions from what is regarded tlie perfect oi^nization of the body. 'ITiesenre, generally, but impcrleclly marked, for it seldom happens that any individual exhibits, in a strong manner, the characters assigned to any tempcra- * Richcnnd has given, ia liu Elements, an inicnsling accouol of Ihc Ictn- pcnoHDlii of which be adtniti six, tie. the sanguine, the miucular or Rlhlelic, Ihe bitiouB, tltc mehadiohi;. the lymphtLc, and the nervous. The nsclaa- cholic ind Ihc nervous lempcramenls are ccgardi^ mlher as raulling iiom iTiirMfL bereditary or aci^imed, than b> the products of primitive and natural •Mnof the conititulion ; and even il is douUlful, il the lymphilic lempera- menl ought not to be considered ui n lirbt stage of diwnse. Il a ceilaia tlikt individuals of tbit huhlt are vcty I'runc to tcrofula. Dr. Bollock thinking, Kith tiQlh, that the arrani^emcnt of the Ancienti has a reul Ibundation in nWure, iilIhoii|;h II \i eneuiiibered with iali« Ihmty, has adniilled il witl) the addilioa of a fiAh t«mp«rBniFUt, vii. the nervoui. The lollowinj; nie what he teftiis the lending varieties of the comlitutloa ; the nervous, the sanguine, the Ionic, the relawd, and the otiMculBr temperoinenli. Vol. iii. p. 3ia M. Rmtan hai given what lie cuuiideit a more phytioIoglc4l hialory of Iba temperaiiienit, founded on ihc predominance or inferiority of the diirercnl oiipnic appiraluses, which carry on thi? moM importniit functioni of the ecoiKiiiiy. They coniiit of the rollciwiug— 1. The lenipemmcnt in which iha digiBlive appai8lu» itrt^onimalrt ; this corropondi to the bihous of other divUoni. 2. The (einpi-rvmciit in which the rttpintory and circulatory ap. pantURfpredoiniaatei this correspond i with the unguinc. 3. The leinpe- mnent in which the brain and its appcndagct pmdnmiTiate. (The nervou*.] 4. The icmperaincnl in which the locomotive apparatus piedoni males. (Tlw rouKUlat.) 5. The temperament in which the genital apparatus pmlomi- nain. 6- The temperament chnracteriicd by the atony of all the appanilusa. (Tht lyrophalic.) 7. Lastly, llie temperament in which nil the organs and fonctions dhiblt a perfect c<|Uilibrium. (The temperate tcmperanienIO It hat bent well observed by Richersiid. that thii liut tiale hai peihapi ncvci been (mad bnl m the imaginiLon of phytiobgiits. so DESCRIPTION OF THS TBMrBBAMENTS. meDt. In fuel, it is difficult to define the state of body that accompanies some of thv temperumuuls, because they are produced merely by the operation of the mind. Id the sanguine disposition, the vascular system is dere- Ipped; the body is well formed and the countenance ruddy. In the phlegmatic, the lymphatic vessels arc distended ; but tlicir action, like that of the other orgaas, is languid ; the structure of the body is relaxed, the cod- tour rounded, and the tOcin pale. The muHcular tempe- rament is characterized by a predominance of the muscles, which are firm and powerfully contractile. The outline of the body is strongly marked ; the head is small, the shoulders broad, and the chest capacious ; the hands and Uie feet, and all those parts in which muscles tuv not placed, appear to be small. The physical charac- ters of the bilious and mehincholic temperaments, which are only modifiaitiorLs of the same condition, are few, and seem to depend on the undue secretion of bile. The skin is more or less tinged with its yellow colour ; the hair is dark or black ; the muscles are moderately deve- loped and firm in texture ; and the forms of the body harshly expressed. As regards the nervous tempera- ment, there is no visible change in the organization, at least in the commencement ; it is said that the body is emaciated, the muscles small, and the skin dry. In conclusion, it must be understood that, notwith- standing tlie accurate definitions of some physiologists and the minute charflctcristic details of others, there are few examples in which all the distinguishing marks of any temperament are well de6ned in one individual. The suroe person is usually bilious, sanguine, &c., and very few are influenced by one temperament alone. £veD in those extreme cases, in which certain ctiaracter- OF THE VARIETIES OF UAKKIND. istics have been strongly developed In the beginning of life, the effects of climate and habits modify them in n powerful manner. In addition to the differences of organization which are exhibited in the several temperaments, there are others of a more determined nature, which affect the internal and external ap)iearance of the human fr'ame. These variations are not like the preceding, confined to a certain number of individuals ; on tlie contrurj', they extend to entire nations, stamping them with peculia- rities which are altered neither by time nor riimate, but which ha^'e existed with prcc))>ely the same characters, in the remotest periods of which we have any historical record. These hereditary conformations have given rise to tite division of the human species into varieties. The number of the variclica has been differently calculated by naturalists ; but the arraitgement of Blumenbach and that of Cuvier, are the most generally followed. I have adopted the former, which in, however, like all others, from the nature of the subject, somewhat imperfect. Blumenbach* admits five 'arieties : the Caucasian, the Mongolian, the Ethiopian, the American, and the Ms- /oyan.f ■ Lee. tit. See Nolei of Dr. Elliobon. p. SS3, tt leg. f Cavicr divide! mankind into three grral variclin :— the Cnucaiiin, the Moogallan, uii Ilic Eilnopmii. He nale*, however, Ibal it i» difficult to refer the Uklaj^ the f^piui of the Knal SouUicro OcraiD. or tliu AmtficaoK. to any one of thwe grand voTirliei. S«o Animal Kingilem. Tnuitlatlaii, by (itiffith, vol. L p. 103. Richirniud adniibi four princrpiil !t.txi, which be ulli the European Arab, Iho Mogul, the Negro, nnd the llypcrboRan ; Hk fint o( IheM divtilont nearly catmponda wiih llio Caucasian variety ; ■ad Ifce laM iaehida the tribes who iahabil tiK north oi the two contioeaU> u the Lapbodtn, llic Ostiaki, the S^inol^ijrs, nod the Greeiiluidcnk He Uitnki lliu the Ainoricani ought not tg be cutuidered ti a diitiDCI rioe. be- cMiM' It i* probable Ihtit ibey wvrn dciivetl origiaally from llie coutiocut of CAUCASIAN, MONGOLIAN. T^e Caucanian, or fair variety, is distingiushfd by the vr))itenei«s of the &kin nnd the redness of the cheeks. The colour of the hair is brown, yellow, red, or black ; it is generally soft, long, and abundant. The beard iD the male is found in considerable quantity ; tlie colour of it uBually corresponding to that of the hair. The head possasses the form that is regarded iis the most beautiful and intellectual, there being a great pre-emi- nence in all those characters which distinguish mnn from bruteii. The skull, which bears