A manuscript case report for a phrenological reading of the character and mental development of George W. Shaw. It begins, "You have body enough to give ample support to your 22 inch brain, and there is no good reason why you should not be healthy and live to a good old age." The reading criticizes common diets: "The world, especially, America is digging its grave with its teeth by eating peppers, mustard, pastry and other condiments and by drinking coffee and tea and using tobacco. thus they are wearing out their lives, not by hard work, mental, or physical, but by the seasonings, the condiments and excitants, and these give the disposition and the [likability?] of going to fast and too far." The text concludes: "Hence banking would be quite as well suited to you as anything unless you could be an importer, wholesale dealer or commission merchant." The verso of final leaf is signed: "C.W. Wheeler, Reporter". Bound in illustrated printed wrappers, secured at top by metal clasp. Outer lower wrapper contains "Principles of phrenology" text.
