Nasology

Not to be confused with Nosology.

Notes on Noses, front page picture

Nasology: Or Hints Towards a Classification of Noses (reissued as Notes on Noses) was a 1848 book published in London under the authorship of Eden Warwick, pen name of a George Jabet, an elaborate parody on phrenology, 282 pages thick. There were several editions of the book in the mid-19th century.

The author

George Jabet (1815-1873) was a solicitor and he was actively involved in the public life of Birmingham, being associated with many literary and educational societies of the city. In addition to Nasology, he published several other books under the pen name Eden Warwick, the first one being The poets' pleasaunce, or, Garden of all sorts of pleasant flowers (1847), as its Preface says, "to illustrate the extent of homage which our best Poets, prior to the present century, have paid to Nature, in Flowers" and "it is intended to exhibit a History of the Poetry in Flowers".

The book

Nasology originated as a paper communicated to a small literary society as Handsworth, later expanded into a book. However the title proved to be unattractive, and the publisher reissued the book under the title Notes on Noses in 1859. Sharrona Pearl described it as "widely read and enduring" and as an example of "tongue-in-cheek treatment of pocket physiognomy" of the 19th century.

The book has a pronounced anti-scientific stance, which probably did not reflect actual Jablet's views on science. For example, the book jokingly criticizes the contemporary science, saying that it works for monetary gain, rather than for the advance of the knowledge, especially picking on geology: instead of "raising and elevating the mind" it facilitates "the discovery of minerals, or the boring of artesian wells".

Nasal Classification

Warwick states that "besides being an ornament to the face, or a convenient handle by which to grasp an impudent fellow, it is an important index to its owner's character; and that the accurate observation and minute comparison of an extensive collection of Noses of persons whose mental characteristics are known, justifies a Nasal Classification." Then the book proceeds with the latter, recognizing six main classes, with detailed analysis, at the same time noting that "there are infinite crosses and intermixtures".

• 
  Class I. (Roman or Aquiline Nose)
• 
  Class II.(Greek or Straight Nose)
• 
  Class III. (Cogitative or Wide-Nostrilled Nose)
• 
  Class IV. (Jewish or Hawk Nose)
• 
  Class V. (Snub Nose)
• 
  Class VI. (Celestial or Turn-Up Nose)

Nasology cards

In addition the book has chapters "Of Feminine Noses" ("The subject of Nasology would not be complete without some observations on the Feminine Nose, because sex modifies the indications, some of which, though disagreeable and repulsive in a man, are rather pleasing, fascinating, and bewitching in a woman, and vice versâ.") and "Of National Noses" ("Every nation has a characteristic Nose; and the less advanced the nation is in civilization, the more general and perceptible is the characteristic form.").

On importance of the "nasal classification", Warwick maintains: "We all acknowledge the impression given by the mind to the mouth and eyes because they express Temper and Passion - feelings which interest us in our mutual intercourse. The nose is not influenced by feelings which agitate and vary the mind. Unmovable and Unvaried."