Buchanan's Journal of Man, October 1887: Volume 1, Number 9

In Short

This document serves as a manifesto for the "new science" of Anthropology and Sarcognomy. It acts as a bridge between the rigid, emerging field of neurology and the mystical, occult beliefs of the late 1800s. Through essays, editorials, and critiques of contemporary phrenology, the publication argues that the heart and brain work in concert to govern human destiny. By challenging established medical colleges and advocating for a holistic, spiritual understanding of medicine, it captures a fleeting, feverish moment in intellectual history when science was still deeply intertwined with the marvelous.

The Story

The narrative progression of this periodical is one of aggressive intellectual reform. It begins by asserting that traditional medicine and contemporary science have failed humanity by ignoring the "real man"—a spiritual entity that animates the physical body. The argument posits that the heart is the true seat of life and will, while the brain acts as the seat of thought. This duality is presented as the foundation for a "rational system of medicine," one that transcends the reliance on drugs and surgical intervention.

As the text moves forward, it expands its scope to encompass a global view of social progress. The reader is taken through a series of observations on the state of the world, ranging from women’s rights in Paris to the political sentiment in Canada and the education of children in France. This is not merely a list of events; it is a diagnostic tool. The publication evaluates each of these developments through the lens of its own philosophy, constantly asking whether they serve the "true" nature of man. For example, it celebrates women’s professional triumphs—such as those of Miss Bradley in medicine—as evidence of a shifting societal structure that aligns with the evolution of the human spirit.

The central conflict emerges in the critique of "the selfish system of society." The text characterizes modern commerce and the medical establishment as antagonistic forces that thrive on competition and plunder. It argues that society is caught in a cycle of overcharging and physical neglect. Against this backdrop, the publication introduces its primary scientific objective: the rectification of the work of Gall and Spurzheim. It systematically tears down the established map of phrenology, claiming that earlier practitioners missed half the functions of the brain. It seeks to replace these incomplete models with a new, more precise geography of the mind, one that incorporates spiritual and psychometric phenomena.

The arc concludes with a call to action. It moves away from theoretical debate and toward the establishment of a new order, embodied by the College of Therapeutics. The final sections emphasize that this knowledge is not merely academic but a practical, transformative power that can be wielded by the individual. The promise is that through the application of Sarcognomy and a better understanding of one's own constitution, the individual can attain control over their health and character. The publication leaves the reader with a vision of a future where medicine has been decentralized, spiritualism is treated as a science, and the "weak thing" of today becomes the dominant truth of tomorrow.

How It Unfolds

The spiritual origin of man The argument commences by establishing that human beings are spiritual entities temporarily residing in physical masks, originating from a divine source rather than the womb. It sets the stage for a conflict between the materialist view of life and a deeper, occult understanding of human development.

The heart versus the brain A detailed physiological debate is introduced, asserting that the heart, as the seat of life and will, holds supremacy over the brain. This section challenges the reader to reconsider the anatomical hierarchy that places the brain at the center of existence.

Critiquing the pioneers The text turns toward an analysis of phrenology, acknowledging the breakthroughs of Gall and Spurzheim while identifying their work as fundamentally incomplete. It meticulously charts the errors in their maps, claiming that large portions of the brain’s function remained invisible to them.

Social and global observations A wide-ranging survey of the world provides context, linking medical reform to broader social movements like women’s suffrage and international economic changes. This demonstrates that the publication is not merely a medical journal, but a blueprint for a total reorganization of society.

The path forward The final beats focus on the practical application of these theories through the College of Therapeutics and the promotion of spiritualist literature. It concludes by inviting the reader to participate in a "new era" of humanity where the secrets of the brain are finally fully decoded.

The People

The central figures in this text are not characters in a drama, but intellectual titans representing clashing ideologies. Dr. J. R. Buchanan is the primary architect, a man who views himself as a pioneer of a "new education" that the medical establishment is too jealous to accept. He stands against the "mountain mass of inertia" that prevents scientific progress, and he positions himself as the only one capable of providing a truly complete map of the human brain.

Dr. F. Hartmann, the author of the essay on Oriental Anthropology, acts as a primary collaborator. He brings an occult, Theosophical perspective, pushing Buchanan’s work further into the realm of the mystical. Hartmann wants to merge the "ancient doctrine" of the East with Western scientific rigor, despite the occasional disagreement from Buchanan regarding the specific physiology of the heart and brain.

Miss Bradley and Miss Augusta Klumpke appear as symbols of the "woman’s triumph." They want to break into the male-dominated field of medicine in Paris. They stand against the traditional, enfeebling methods of their peers. By succeeding in their examinations, they serve as the practical proof that the current system is indeed ripe for the kind of radical change that the publication advocates. Finally, the "Seybert commission" serves as the antagonist—a group of blundering, "lazy" investigators who represent the skeptical mainstream that the authors aim to dismantle.

In Its Own Voice

"The enlightened ones of all nations agree that the real man, who resides temporarily in the physical human body... is of a spiritual origin, again and again re-incarnating itself in physical masks and forms of flesh and blood."

This line defines the core spiritual philosophy of the publication regarding human existence.

"The heart is consequently the centre from which that power which builds up the organism of man emanates, and as this power can be nothing else but Life, the heart is the centre of life."

This captures the central physiological argument that elevates the heart above the brain.

"The instruction in the College of Therapeutics is thoroughly demonstrative, leaving no room for doubt, and it gives a species of knowledge which ought to be a part of every one's education."

This statement serves as the primary pitch for the educational mission of the journal.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an inquiry into the limits of human knowledge and the possibility of a "universal science." It asks whether humanity can move beyond the "animalism and barbarism" of traditional medicine into a state of perfected, spiritualized health. The text is obsessed with the idea that the physical world—the brain, the blood, the body—is merely a manifestation of a deeper, invisible reality. The fundamental argument is that by understanding the location of our faculties, we can harness the divine power of love and will to reshape our own lives. It is a quest to reconcile the cold, experimental facts of anatomy with the ancient, intuitive truths of the spirit, ultimately suggesting that we are the masters of our own biological destiny.

Why Read It Today

Reading this is like stepping into a Victorian-era laboratory where the microscopes are aimed at ghosts. You will find it valuable if you are interested in the history of ideas, specifically the transitional period when scientific skepticism began to wrestle with the remnants of occult mysticism. It is a fascinating, if occasionally difficult, document that reveals how people in the 1880s attempted to bridge the gap between their evolving understanding of biology and their desire for spiritual meaning.

Be prepared for the period-typical arrogance of its tone; the authors are deeply convinced of their own genius and hold little patience for those they deem "lazy" or "ignorant." The text is dense with the jargon of nineteenth-century phrenology, which can feel like reading a map of a country that no longer exists. You will encounter attitudes toward gender and race that are firmly rooted in the 1880s, which may be jarring for a contemporary reader. However, the experience of reading it is remarkably immersive. It captures a specific, breathless hope for the future—a belief that all of human suffering could be cured if we only understood the right spot on the cranium or the right vibration of the heart. It stays with you as a testament to the human desire to quantify the unquantifiable.