The Zoist Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844 edition. Excerpt: ... THE ZOIST. No. II. JULY, 1843. I. Our Criminal Code. In Out first number we endeavoured to trace the progress of Cerebral Physiology from its dawn in the land of the despot to the period of its localization in our own country. We referred to the labours of the immortal Gall--to the opposition offered to Spurzheim on his arrival here--to the rapid advance made in the promulgation of our principles since that period --to the temporizing spirit manifested by Cerebral Physiologists, when brought into contact with popular and powerful prejudices--to the benefit which must accrue to the great course of humanity when our science is practically studied and practically applied--and we endeavoured by the removal of all mystery, and by a determination to state boldly, regardless of individual consequences, our facts, and the inferences from the facts, to clear away difficulties and to infuse a more healthy tone of thought into our philosophy. We are now about to offer a few remarks on Criminal Legislation. Hitherto, in the investigation of a Criminal Code, Cerebral Physiologists have only studied the cerebral formation of the criminal. From the innumerable facts in their possession, they have been enabled to indicate the cause of the criminal tendency, and indisputably to demonstrate the necessity of considering the criminal a moral patient. We now require a more extended application of our facts. We now want the application of these facts to the development of the philosophy of our science, which will necessitate the adoption of legislatorial enactments for the purpose of rescuing from the halter diseased or mal-formed brains, and thus recognizing one of VOL. I. I the most important truths we can become familiar with-- that man's actions...