There is no doubt that persons having the complexion and other signs of the sanguine temperament, are more liable to certain classes of disorders than the phlegmatic or melancholic, while the latter have their own peculiar tendencies. The sanguine, having a fully-developed vascular structure, and therefore a vigorcus circulation of blood, a warm skin, and a high degree of organic sensibility, are more liable to sudden and powerful impressions from external agents than those of more languid vital functions. They are subject in a greater degree to severe inflammatory disorders, and disorders of this class are on them more acute : they bear, however, better than persons of more languid habit, evacuations of blood and the other measures which are found to be the proper remedies for these diseases. The greater fulness of blood-vessels, of those at least which are near the sur face, the greater warmth of the skin, and the florid complexion of the sanguine, afford reason to believe that the designation given to this temperament is not wholly unfounded. We likewise find that sanguine persons are more subject to hemorrhages (to those at least which are termed weirs) as arising from excess in the force of circula tion through the arteries. Individuals of the phlegmatic temperament are predisposed to disorders arising from, or connected with, a low degree of vital energy. Local congestions of blood arising independently of general excitement come under this category. Glandular and tuber cular diseases take place in bodies weak in the structures connected with the vital functions, and are perhaps more frequent in the phlegmatic than in other temperaments. Inflammatory complaints, when they attack the phlegmatic, are less acute and more disposed to terminate in chronic diseases than are those of the sanguine con stitution, when at least the latter have been treated by appropriate remedies. The relations of the choleric to the melancholic tempera ment are similar to the relations which the phlegmatic bears to the sanguine; the former displays greater vigour, both in health and disease than the latter. The choleric and sanguine, when affected by diseases of the nervous system, have complaints of greater violence and acuteness: mania or raving madness belongs particularly (according to the observations of 31. Eaquirol and many others) to these constitu tions. The melancholic temperament is moat prone to monomania, attended with depression and melancholy illusions. Hypochondriasis much more frequently affects the phlegmatic and melancholic, though it is occasionally observed in persona who have some of the external characters of the sanguine temperament. The most severe cases of
hypochondriasis, adds Dr. Prichard, and those which approached meet nearly to the character of melancholia, have certainly occurred in individuals of a dark leaden complexion, fixed and sullen aspect, and lank coal-black hair.
But it is not merely on the body, both in its healthy and morbid state, that the temperament exerts an important influence; the relation of the different forms of physical organisation to the intellectual and even to the moral faculties is equally marked and apparent The relation of mental peculiarities to the structure of the body has been observed by medical authors of every age, and it has been stated and explained in different ways. Hippocrates said that "the soul is the same in all men, but that the body is different in different individuals. The soul is ever like itself both in greater and in less, for it undergoes change neither by nature nor by necessity ; but the body is subject to continual alterations. The affections of the mind depend upon the body ; there are many states of the latter which sharpen, and many which obtund it." (llipp., De Viettis Rations, lib. i., § 21, tom. i., p. 650.) Democritus, in a letter said to have been addressed by him to Hippocrates, asserted that "the intelligence of the mind depends greatly on the body, the diseases of which obscure the mental faculties, and draw the latter into consent" (llipp., Epist.', tom. p. 824.) Among the writings of Galen there is a treatise entitled Quod Animi Mores Corporie Tetnperamenta sequantur ' (torn. iv., ed. Kuhn), written expressly to establish the connection between the passions and desires of the mind and the temperaments, wherein ho has handled the subject very ingeniously and has delivered many profound views of the animal economy. But it is in the works of modern writers that we find this doctrine most fully developed, and made a foundation for a division of human characters, though their views are mingled with many fanciful and unphilosophieal speculations.
The doctrine of temperaments is true to a certain extent, and has ever been confirmed by an appeal to experience. States of the mind are so connected with affections of the body, that it is im possible for any person who considers all the physiological facts that present themselves in connection with this subject to doubt that with each temperament particular mental qualities must be associated, although it is manifest that many writers have indulged their fancy on this subject, and have gone into more full and minute details than experience will establish.