1846 Marriage: Its History and Ceremonies; With a Phrenological and Physiological Exposition of the Functions and Qualifications for Happy Marriages, by L. N. Fowler
Fascinating study that applies the principles of phrenology to the societal and personal aspects of marriage. 220 pages bound in dark green hardcover. The binding is intact but somewhat fragile at the front cover. The pages are in good condition with very light foxing. Inside the front and back covers are the ink inscriptions of the book’s owners, from 1869 and 1883. A unique addition to a 19th Century medical collection.
Phrenology, now considered a pseudoscience, involves the measurement of bumps on the skull to predict mental traits. It is based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules. Although both of those ideas have a basis in reality, phrenology generalized beyond empirical knowledge in a way that departed from science. Developed by German physician Franz Joseph Gall in 1796, the discipline was influential in the 19th century, especially from about 1810 until 1840.
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Inventory Number: HIS 114