Beschrijving
Amsterdam, W. Holtrop, 1804, 1st edition, xxiv,308+(4) pages, 5 engraved fold out plates of the human skull and brain (professional reenforcements to edges of plates), modern half linen binding, some staining on first thre pages including titlepage, otherwose clean bloc, plates are clean too, commentary of Jacob Elisa Doornik (1777-1837) on the findings of Franz Josef Gall (1758 – 1828) who was a German neuroanatomist, physiologist, and pioneer in the study of the localization of mental functions in the brain. Claimed as the founder of phrenology, Gall was an early and important researcher in his fields. His contributions to the field of neuropsychology were controversial at the time and now widely referred to as pseudoscience. However, Gall's study of phrenology helped establish psychology as a science, contributed to the emergence of the naturalistic approach to the study of man, and played an important part in the development of evolutionist theories, anthropology, and sociology. Doornik studied in Leiden and became a doctor in the Netherlands and later in Dutch East Indies (Batavia, Nederlandsch Indie), he was forced to leave because he opposed the colonial system, he died in New Orleans. See also Teun van Heiningen: ‘The reception of Franz Joseph Gall's doctrine on phrenology in Holland shortly after 1800’. Scarce.