the expression of emotion in man and animals-第33章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ssed to Dr。 Browne； that it was because she remembered that she had once shaved off her eyebrows to promote their growth。 Many patients in the asylum sit for a long time rocking themselves backwards and forwards； 〃and if spoken to； they stop their movements； purse up their eyes； depress the corners of the mouth； and burst out crying。〃 In some of these cases； the being spoken to or kindly greeted appears to suggest some fanciful and sorrowful notion； but in other cases an effort of any kind excites weeping； independently of any sorrowful idea。 Patients suffering from acute mania likewise have paroxysms of violent crying or blubbering； in the midst of their incoherent ravings。 We must not； however； lay too much stress on the copious shedding of tears by the insane； as being due to the lack of all restraint； for certain brain…diseases； as hemiplegia； brain…wasting； and senile decay； have a special tendency to induce weeping。 Weeping is common in the insane； even after a complete state of fatuity has been reached and the power of speech lost。 Persons born idiotic likewise weep；＇9＇ but it is said that this is not the case with cretins。
＇8＇ ‘The Origin of Civilization；' 1870； p。 355。
Weeping seems to be the primary and natural expression； as we see in children； of suffering of any kind； whether bodily pain short of extreme agony； or mental distress。 But the foregoing facts and common experience show us that a frequently repeated effort to restrain weeping； in association with certain states of the mind； does much in checking the habit。 On the other hand； it appears that the power of weeping can be increased through habit； thus the Rev。 R。 Taylor；＇10＇ who long resided in New Zealand； asserts that the women can voluntarily shed tears in abundance； they meet for this purpose to mourn for the dead； and they take pride in crying 〃in the most affecting manner。〃
A single effort of repression brought to bear on the lacrymal glands does little； and indeed seems often to lead to an opposite result。 An old and experienced physician told me that he had always found that the only means to check the occasional bitter weeping of ladies who consulted him； and who themselves wished to desist； was earnestly to beg them not to try； and to assure them that nothing would relieve them so much as prolonged and copious crying。
＇9＇ See； for instance； Mr。 Marshall's account of an idiot in Philosoph。 Transact。 1864； p。 526。 With respect to cretins； see Dr。 Piderit； ‘Mimik und Physiognomik；' 1867； s。 61。
＇10＇ ‘New Zealand and its Inhabitants；' 1855； p。 175。
The screaming of infants consists of prolonged expirations； with short and rapid； almost spasmodic inspirations； followed at a somewhat more advanced age by sobbing。 According to Gratiolet；＇11＇ the glottis is chiefly affected during the act of sobbing。 This sound is heard 〃at the moment when the inspiration conquers the resistance of the glottis； and the air rushes into the chest。〃 But the whole act of respiration is likewise spasmodic and violent。 The shoulders are at the same time generally raised； as by this movement respiration is rendered easier。 With one of my infants； when seventy…seven days old； the inspirations were so rapid and strong that they approached in character to sobbing； when 138 days old I first noticed distinct sobbing； which subsequently followed every bad crying…fit。 The respiratory movements are partly voluntary and partly involuntary； and I apprehend that sobbing is at least in part due to children having some power to command after early infancy their vocal organs and to stop their screams； but from having less power over their respiratory muscles； these continue for a time to act in an involuntary or spasmodic manner； after having been brought into violent action。 Sobbing seems to be peculiar to the human species； for the keepers in the Zoological Gardens assure me that they have never heard a sob from any kind of monkey； though monkeys often scream loudly whilst being chased and caught； and then pant for a long time。 We thus see that there is a close analogy between sobbing and the free shedding of tears； for with children； sobbing does not commence during early infancy； but afterwards comes on rather suddenly and then follows every bad crying…fit； until the habit is checked with advancing years。
＇11＇ ‘De la Physionomie；' 1865； p。 126。
_On the cause of the contraction of the muscles round the eyes during screaming_。We have seen that infants and young children； whilst screaming； invariably close their eyes firmly； by the contraction of the surrounding muscles； so that the skin becomes wrinkled all around。 With older children； and even with adults； whenever there is violent and unrestrained crying； a tendency to the contraction of these same muscles may be observed； though this is often checked in order not to interfere with vision。
Sir C。 Bell explains＇12＇ this action in the following manner：〃During every violent act of expiration； whether in hearty laughter； weeping； coughing； or sneezing； the eyeball is firmly compressed by the fibres of the orbicularis； and this is a provision for supporting and defending the vascular system of the interior of the eye from a retrograde impulse communicated to the blood in the veins at that time。 When we contract the chest and expel the air； there is a retardation of the blood in the veins of the neck and head； and in the more powerful acts of expulsion； the blood not only distends the vessels； but is even regurgitated into the minute branches。 Were the eye not properly compressed at that time； and a resistance given to the shock； irreparable injury might be inflicted on the delicate textures of the interior of the eye。〃 He further adds； 〃If we separate the eyelids of a child to examine the eye； while it cries and struggles with passion； by taking off the natural support to the vascular system of the eye； and means of guarding it against the rush of blood then occurring； the conjunctiva becomes suddenly filled with blood； and the eyelids everted。〃
＇12＇ ‘The Anatomy of Expression；' 1844； p。 106。 See also his paper in the ‘Philosophical Transactions；' 1822； p。 284； ibid。 1823； pp。 166 and 289。 Also ‘The Nervous System of the Human Body；' 3rd edit。 1836； p。 175。
Not only are the muscles round the eyes strongly contracted； as Sir C。 Bell states and as I have often observed； during screaming； loud laughter； coughing； and sneezing； but during several other analogous actions。 A man contracts these muscles when he violently blows his nose。 I asked one of my boys to shout as loudly as he possibly could； and as soon as he began； he firmly contracted his orbicular muscles； I observed this repeatedly； and on asking him why he had every time so firmly closed his eyes； I found that he was quite unaware of the fact： he had acted instinctively or unconsciously。
It is not necessary； in order to lead to the contraction of these muscles； that air should actually be expelled from the chest； it suffices that the muscles of the chest and abdomen should contract with great force； whilst by the closure of the glottis no air escapes。 In violent vomiting or retching the diaphragm is made to descend by the chest being filled with air； it is then held in this position by the closure of the glottis； 〃as well as by the contraction of its own fibres。〃＇13＇ The abdominal muscles now contract strongly upon the stomach； its proper muscles likewise contracting； and the contents are thus ejected。 During each effort of vomiting 〃the head becomes greatly congested； so that the features are red and swollen； and the large veins of the face and temples visibly dilated。〃 At the same time； as I know from observation； the muscles round the eyes are strongly contracted。 This is likewise the case when the abdominal muscles act downwards with unusual force in expelling the contents of the intestinal canal。
＇13＇ See Dr。 Brinton's account of the act of vomiting； in Todd's Cyclop。 of Anatomy and Physiology； 1859； vol。 v。 Supplement； p。 318。
The greatest exertion of the muscles of the body； if those of the chest are not brought into strong action in expelling or compressing the air within the lungs； does not lead to the contractio
