TEMPERAMENTS.

The different prevalent propensities in various individuals, the

development of which appeared to be under the influence of a certain and

constitutional organization, have received the name of temperaments; or,

rather, this term applies to this peculiar organization of the

constitution or idiosyncrasy. The Greek physiologists were the first to

classify these peculiarities, or _temperamenta_,--the _naturae_ of

Hippocrates, the _mixturae_ of Galen. They considered organized bodies as

an assemblage of elements endowed with different properties, but combined

in such manner that their union should constitute a whole, in which none

of them should predominate in a healthy condition; but, on the contrary,

they were to modify and _temper_ each other, their simultaneous action

being directed and controlled by the spirit of life, _spiritus_. It was

the due combination of these elements that constituted a perfect

temperament; their aberrancy produced disease of body or of mind.

The ancients divided these elements into cold and hot, dry and moist; from

the combination of these principles they classified the fluids of the

body. The blood was hot and moist, the bile hot and dry, the phlegm cold

and damp, and the melancholy cold and dry. This division led to a further

classification; and temperaments, according to the predominance of these

elements, were divided into the _sanguineous_, the _bilious_, the

_phlegmatic_, and the _melancholic_.

These supposed radical fluids, influencing the whole animal frame, were

dependent upon certain organs for their specific production. The blood was

furnished by the heart, the phlegm by the head, the yellow bile by the

gall-duct, and the black bile or atrabile,--the principle of

melancholy,--by the spleen. Notwithstanding the many revolutions in the

doctrine of physiology that have shaken the schools since the days of

Hippocrates, this classification of his has remained to a certain degree

to the present day, and has laid the foundation of all the systems of

temperaments, constitutions, and natural characters, that have at various

periods been advanced by philosophers; the only novel introduction in this

ancient classification being the nervous temperament, which, after all, is

only a modification of the four other categories.

To illustrate the operations of these temperaments, it became necessary to

adopt terms expressive of their combination, and _temper_ and _humour_

were adopted. Both are Latin terms; the first, in its original sense,

imports mingling, modifying, tempering the four radical fluids, and

producing that equilibrious condition of the frame, termed _constitution_.

_Humour_ was derived from the Greek [Greek: chumos], _chumos_; and its

radical sense imported moisture, or fluid of any kind. Hence _humid_ and

_humidity_. This doctrine of fluidity is still applied to many functions

that we cannot otherwise describe, and we talk, although in a figurative

manner, of the nervous fluid, the vital fluid; and a good humour, a bad

humour, a vein of humour, or a humorous vein, are illustrations of

peculiar tempers and temperaments,--for temperaments are still

distinguished by the same terms applied to them by the ancients, and we

describe one man as _choleric_, or bilious, for _choler_ ([Greek: chole])

means bile; another as being _melancholic_; a third of a _sanguine

disposition_; and a fourth of a _phlegmatic habit_. The _sanguine_, that

imports a predominance of the blood, indicated a warm and ardent

exuberance of spirits; whereas the _phlegmatic_, denoting a thin and cold

watery fluid, referred to a frigid and spiritless indolence.

We thus see that modern physiology has scarcely advanced this branch of

science, for the _nervous temperament_ may be considered as merely a

modification of the other ones; and it is more than probable that the old

classification will long prevail, notwithstanding the ingenuity of modern

hypotheses. Husson divided the temperaments into those that referred to

the vascular system, to the nervous system, and to the muscular system,

with subdivisions applied to regions and to organs; all these temperaments

being either natural and primitive, or acquired. Dr. Thomas, of Paris, has

founded his arrangement according to the predominance of the head, chest,

or abdomen,--or the mental, circulatory, or digestive organs,--and

according to the relative bulk and predominance of these three regions

will be the relative energy of the mental, muscular, or abdominal

functions. Notwithstanding the ingenuity of these systems, the old

arrangement, as I have already observed, is likely to prevail; and as

Blumenbach observes, that although this division was founded on an

imaginary depravation of the elements of the blood, if made to stand alone

it will prove both natural and intelligible.

This division I shall therefore endeavour to illustrate. In the

_sanguineous temperament_ the heart and arteries possess a predominant

energy; the pulse is strong, frequent and regular; the veins blue, full,

and large; the complexion florid, the countenance animated, the stature

erect, the muscular forms marked and firm; the hair of a yellow, auburn,

or chestnut colour; the nervous impressions acute, the perception quick,

the memory retentive, the imagination lively and luxuriant, the

disposition passionate but not vindictive, and passion is easily appeased;

amorous, and fond of conviviality and good cheer.

In this temperament we find athletic strength and fortitude of mind in

resisting the power of external agency, with mental tranquillity in the

midst of danger; a calmness arising from a consciousness of power, and

from less acuteness of external impressions and mental perceptions. Such a

man, when roused to action, will endeavour to surmount every physical

difficulty; but he will rarely attain pre-eminence in sciences and the

fine arts, which require exquisite sensibility and mobility,--qualities

seldom met with in such forms as those described by the poets in Hercules

and Ajax.

In the _choleric_ or _bilious_ temperament the liver and biliary organs

are as redundant in their power as the sanguineous vessels, and, for the

most part, at the expense of the excernent or cellulous and lymphatic

system. The pulse is strong and hard, but more frequent than in the

sanguineous; the veins superficial and projecting; the sensibility

extremely acute and easily excited, with a capacity of pondering for a

long time on the same object. The skin is sallow, with a tendency to a

yellow tinge; the hair black or dark brown; the body moderately fleshy,

the muscles firm and well marked, the figure expressive; the temper of the

mind abrupt, impetuous, and violent,--bold in the conception of a project,

inflexible in its pursuit, persevering and dauntless in its execution.

These are the temperaments that have urged men both to noble and to

execrable deeds. Such were Alexander, Brutus, Mahomet, Cromwell, Charles

the Twelfth, Robespierre, Napoleon. All these celebrated characters

evinced from their earliest youth the ambitious nature of their

dispositions; and though circumstances might have checked the development

of their predominant passions, it was also to adventitious circumstances

that they owed their elevation, and the opportunities of displaying their

good or evil qualities. Most of these men were irascible, vindictive, and

cruel, and equally susceptible of ardent love and mortal hate. In these

temperaments we find a mixed exuberance of blood and bile in a constant

struggle for predominance.

The _melancholy_ or _atrabilious_ temperament is of a different character.

Here the biliary organs are brought into a constant and a morbid action,

while the sanguineous system is weak and irregular. In these gloomy

subjects the skin assumes a sallow, unearthly tinge, the pulse is hard and

contracted, the digestive functions torpid and irregular, the imagination

is gloomy and full of suspicion, and a dark gloom is shed on all around

the morbid sufferer, for such he may be called, since the condition under

which he labours may be considered one of disease. These subjects are

prone to various monomanias; uncertain, fickle, and oftentimes

capriciously cruel. Tiberius and Louis the Eleventh are quoted as examples

of this temperament. Many melancholic individuals have displayed great

genius, and at the same time great depth of thought. Richerand considers

Tasso, Pascal, Zimmermann, and Rousseau as illustrating this unhappy

disposition.

The fourth temperament is the _phlegmatic_, _lymphatic_, _pituitous_, or

_watery_, for all these terms used by different physiologists are

synonymous. Here the proportion of fluids is too considerable for that of

the solids; hence the body attains a considerable, unwholesome bulk. The

muscles are soft and flaccid, the skin fair and transparent, the hair

flaxen or sandy, the pulse weak and slow, all the vital actions are

languid, the memory little tenacious, and the attention wavering; an

insurmountable indolence prevails; and, averse to mental and corporeal

exercise, the _far niente_ is their greatest enjoyment, and a nightcap is

preferable to a diadem. These subjects are generally good, easy persons;

susceptible of kindly feelings, but of a transient nature. Their mind is

generally depraved by effeminacy, and their love is purely animal. They

are not courageous; yet they show great tranquillity of mind in moments of

danger, and would rather quietly sink than struggle with the waves. If

their dwelling was on fire, they would calmly walk out of it, but not

exert themselves to put down the conflagration; and, when hereditary power

places them at the helm of a state, a wreck of the vessel may be speedily

expected, unless the sceptre is wrested from their feeble hands by the

choleric or the atrabilious enthusiast.

The fifth, or _nervous_ temperament, as I have already stated, may be

considered of a complex nature, as it influences the sanguineous as well

as the choleric, the melancholy, and the phlegmatic. In this constitution

the sentient system predominates, and there exists a great susceptibility

to all external impressions. This temperament is generally acquired, and

proceeds from a sedentary life, too great an enjoyment of sensual

pleasures, and fanciful ideas brought on by romantic readings and romantic

thoughts indulged in hours of idleness. The determination of such

individuals is prompt, but uncertain; their affections warm for a while,

are selfish and fickle; their sensations are vivid, but leave no

impressions. Women, especially when educated in boarding-schools,

essentially belong to this class, and are subject to hysterical and

convulsive affections that render them a plague to others and a nuisance

to themselves. In man the muscles are small, flabby, and wasted. The

nervous may possess much vivacity of conception, but no depth of judgment;

and, in general, their productions are as morbid as their mind. This

condition frequently attends the melancholy temperament, "that wings the

soul, and points her to the skies."

Nervous excitability seldom prevails in the sanguineous constitution,

where muscular masses are pronounced in athletic forms. Hence the

sanguineous are not easily brought into action; but, when once roused,

their energies are irresistible. This power is beautifully described by

Virgil in the conflict between Entellus and Dares; still are these

exertions governed by nervous influence, and the result of the

excitability and contractibility of the muscular fibre, termed by

Chaussier its _myotility_.

Mason Good has very justly observed that these temperaments, or generic

constitutions, are perpetually running into each other, and consequently

that not one of them, perhaps, is to be found in a state of full

perfection in any individual; he further aids this remark by the

following illustration: "Strictly speaking, Mr. Pitt and Mr. Fox belonged

equally, in the main, to the second temperament; there was the same

ardour, genius and comprehensive judgment in both, with a considerable

tendency to the sanguineous, and hence with more irritability, but more

self-confidence, audacity, and sanguine expectation: the latter, while

possessing the same general or bilious temperament, was at the same time

more strongly inclined to the lymphatic, and hence his increased corporeal

bulk, and with less bold and ardent expectation he possessed one of the

sweetest and most benevolent dispositions to be met with in the history of

the world. The first was formed to be revered, the second to be beloved;

both to be admired and immortalized."

I apprehend that a profound study of human temperaments and propensities

may afford a more desirable guide in the education of youth, and the

selection of men in the different concerns of life, than that of either

physiognomy or phrenology; although the temperament must materially affect

the general character of the countenance. Yet, from the apparent

prevalence of any temperament we are not to form a rash and hasty judgment

in regard to the future capacities or propensities of youth. As one

temperament runs into another, and assumes a complex form, so can

education regulate the one that naturally predominates, and modify it by a

fusion with another. Thus, the restlessness of the bilious and choleric

may be attuned to a phlegmatic state by the power of reason, and the brute

courage and audacity of the sanguineous checked by inspiring sentiments of

true valour. That every temperament, excepting perhaps the phlegmatic, is

capable of displaying bravery, has been well described by Joanna Baillie

in the following lines:

The brave man is not he who feels no fear,

For that were stupid and irrational;

But he whose noble soul its fear subdues,

And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from.

As for your youth, whom blood and blows delight,

Away with them!--there is not in their crew

One valiant spirit.