Observations of the Deranged Manifestations of the Mind, or Insanity.
Boston: Marsh, Capen & Lyon, 1836.
Price: $300.00
About the item
Third American edition, with notes, Improvements and Plates. Illustrated with 4 lithographic plates at end. viii, [1]-272 pp. Printed by William A Hall. 1 vols. 8vo. Original cloth, paper label. Very Good, some foxing.
Item #316211
Spurzheim was born in the German state of Trier, and worked closely with Dr. Franz Joseph Gall, generally considered to be the creator of the "science" of phrenology. Spurzheim expanded on the ideas of Gall, developing a complex theory of phrenology of his own. Although controversial and often debunked by men of science, phrenology gained in popularity as a result of Spurzheim's work. In 1832, he traveled to Boston and began a series of lectures in which he addressed the anatomy of the brain, avoiding the topic of phrenology. The lectures were well received, and his stay in Boston was intended to extend to two years, but he contracted typhoid and died suddenly. Originally published in German in 1818, this posthumous edition was a testament to the esteem he earned during his short time in Boston.