TEMPERAMENT. Although all indivi duals of the same species are composed of the same tissues, consisting of the same elements both proximate and ultimate, and agreeing in all essential points of chemical constitution, yet there exist between certain groups of them, sometimes in the most striking degree, differences not only in the physical powers and actions of their frames, but also in their mental qualities. These differences are refer rible only to peculiarities in the constitution of an individual, or in other words, to pecu liarities in the quality of his solids and fluids, which are of a nature so recondite that we cannot detect them by any chemical or ana tomical means, and we appreciate them only by the character with which they impress the physical and, to a certain extent, mental actions of the individual in which they exist. To ex press this character in one word physiologists employ the term temperament.
The use of this word is of very ancient date. We trace it as far back as the time of Galen, who broached the doctrine that the blood consisted of four humours, correspond ing to the four elements ; these were respec tively designated bilis, sanguis, atra bilis, phlegnia. nine, says Haller, ex ejusmodi quatuor hurnotibtis sanguinem aiebant loupe rani, justamque oinnium principiorum commis tionem perfectissinium temperamention efficerd; si vero aut sanguis supra legitimain suam quasi dosin abundaret, sive bilis, sive terra atrave bilis, sive phlegma, quatuor tune sim plicia et prmcipua temperamenta aiebant oriri, a bilis abundantia cholericum, ab aquae uber tate phlegmaticunt, a sanguinis ancta pertione sanguineum, et denique a copia atria bilis me lancholicunt.# This view of the doctrine of temperaments prevailed in the schools down to the time of Cullen, and we find that able and thoughtful physician thus expressing himself upon the subject : " The ancients very early established a distinction of temperaments which the schools of physic have almost universally 'adopted ever since, and appears to me to be founded on observation. I am very much of opinion, that we can perceive a combination of a particular state of the chief circumstances of the economy to take place very steadily in certain persons, and thereby to form at least two of the temperaments assigned by the an cients." ± The temperaments, the existence of which seems most consistent with observation, are those admitted by Cullen, namely, the sangui neousand the melancholic, the phlegmatic being a degree or modification of the sanguineous, and the choleric of the melancholic.
It is reasonable to expect an infinite variety as regards the extent to which the character istic marks of the temperaments are manifested in various individuals. Taking examples which afford good indications, the two temperaments above referred to may be described as follows, after Cullen.
Individuals of the sanguine temperament have the quantity of fluids in the body large in proportion to the solids, the habit of body soft and plump, after the period of manhood disposed to obesity, and at all times, readily sweating upon exercise, the skin smooth and white, the hair soft, generally of a pale colour or from thence passing through different shades to a red ; the complexion ruddy, the eyes com monly blue ; the strength of the whole body is moderate, and the mind sensible, irritable, cheerful, and unsteady. The most exquisite examples of this temperament are found in men from the time of puberty to that of man hood, and in women. In both sexes the cha racteristics of the temperaments are far less manifest in old age.
In persons of the melancholic temperament the habit of the body is rather hard and mea gre, the quantity of fluids in the whole system moderate in proportion to the solids, the sim ple solids firm and dense, the hair hard, black, with a tendency to curl, the skin coarse, of a dun colour, with a corresponding complexion, the eyes very constantly black, the strength considerable, the mind slow, disposed to gra vity, caution and timidity, with little sensibi lity or irritability, but tenacious of all emotions once excited, and therefore of great steadiness. This temperament is most completely formed in advanced life, but the characters of it ap pear often very early.t By some writers a nervous temperament is admitted, the prominent characteristic of which consists in a great excitability of the nervous system, and a predominance of emotional impulses over the influence of the will. Individuals of this temperament are generally fidgetty and restless, take but little sleep, and are anxious about trifles ; they are called " creatures of impulse ; " their emotions are easily excited, and often not readily sub dued. In persons of this temperament, when labouring under disease, phenomena referrible to the nervous system are very apt to compli cate and often to obscure the morbid actions. This temperament, however, cannot be said to exist apart from the sanguineous or me lancholic : it always accompanies either one or the other, most frequently the former, and the most exquisite examples of it are found in the female sex.