Commentary on Human Temperaments as They Depend on the Structure and Fabric of the Body

relations, and they often seem so little subject to the constitution of the body that one and the same propensity can dominate in men of different bodily temperament, and no difference can be found, except that which seems to flow from the manner in which each one, according to his different irritability and sensibility, displays his propensities and affections. Among so many difficulties that hinder the classification of the temperaments of the soul, I thought it better, if I were to consider only the varying irritability and sensibility of the body, to commit that arduous task to the study of philosophers, and to add only those propensities of the mind which seem capable of being explained by the constitution of the body, especially if the power of the same over the mind is aided by other things.

The number of temperaments would indeed equal the number of individual men k if there were a desire to consider all the smallest diversities by which man can be distinguished from man. But for preparing the main classes of temperament, to which learned men can easily subject their observations, it will suffice, after the manner of botanists, as that singular Swiss says l, to take the characters from the body. Pursuing this path, I find the following primary classes:

1. The equal, moderate temperament m.

The vital forces seem to be distributed with every equality that is required for the functions of any part. The muscular fibers enjoy proper rigidity and irritability. The nervous system is sensitive, yet not excited by every small stimulus. Hence, the circulation of the blood continues its quiet and equal path, until a sufficient irritation, whether bodily or mental, acts upon the parts endowed with vitality. The sensory organs have attained the same quality as the whole body, which, unless exercise is lacking, fulfill their functions in the best way. This is certainly a most happy constitution, consistent with the economy of the human body; but, as it seems, it is more rare, since diet, discovered partly by necessity and partly by luxury, and the exertion of mind and body, and the relations of any kind encountered in human society have introduced such a discrepancy. Nevertheless, nature can sometimes overcome these obstacles and produce that which I have called the equal temperament, which is easily distinguished by a beautiful bodily habit, moderate size, a large, rare infrequent, slow, and rather hard pulse, by the consistency of the actions of body and mind, etc.

k) Haller, Physiological Elements, Vol. II, p. 146.
l) J. I. Ritter, Morbona. Nuremberg, 1773.
m) It agrees almost with the gentle and mild temperament of the illustrious Wrisberg, loc. cit., p. 79; the phlegmatic of Cullen, loc. cit., p. 117; the Roman of the famous Plattner, loc. cit., p. 257.