THE  OBSERVATIONAL  METHOD

24I

that  a  skin  of  fine  texture  indicates  a  mind  of  fine  texture
and  consequently  an  intellectual  mind.  The  scientific
fact  advanced  to  support  this  view  is  that  the  brain  is
originally  an  ingrowth  of  the  skin.  This  is  true.  However,
it  by  no  means  follows,  because  the  skin  of  the  embryo
turns  inward  and  later  develops  into  the  nervous  system,
that  there  is  any  functional  connection  between  the  two.
To  say  that  a  fine  skin  betokens  a  fine  mind  is  nothing  more
than  a  pretty  play  upon  words.
Scientists  are  agreed  on  the  fact  that  there  are  certain
broad  mental  functions  which  are  localized  in  fairly
definite  parts  of  the  brain.  We  know,  for  instance,  that
certain  motor  areas  are  located  along  the  fissure  of  Rolando, ­
  and  certain  kinsesthetic  sensory  areas  in  the  same
tegion.  Other  areas  are  also  generally  defined.  However,
these  areas  refer  to  regions  in  the  brain  and  not  bumps  on
the  head.  Moreover,  no  scientist  has  as  yet  established  a
definite  relation  between  specific  parts  of  the  brain  and
specific  mental,  moral,  and  emotional  qualities,  such  as
initiative,  will-power,  and  artistic  temperament;  and  certainly ­
  not  between  such  traits  and  physical  characteristics
as  the  color  of  the  hair  and  the  position  of  the  eyes.  These
facts  are  entirely  in  the  field  of  conjecture.  If  any  fact
stands  out  as  prophetic  of  future  developments,  it  is  the
fact  that  the  mind  or  nervous  system  is  so  interwoven
and  integrative  in  its  action  that  definite  locations  for
definite  or  rather  indefinite  personal  qualities  will  never  be
found.  Sherrington’s  work  on  “  The  Integrative  Action  of
the  Nervous  System  ”  is  a  great  contribution  toward  establishing ­
  this  fact.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  the  fundamental ­
  assumption  on  which  the  so-called  science  of
observation  rests  is  an  assumption  entirely  unwarranted
by  the  facts.  (Note.  A  more  complete  discussion  of  this