the expression of emotion in man and animals-第69章
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lushing； and he says that the aborigines have a word expressive of shame。 Mr。 Hagenauer； who is one of those who has never observed the Australians to blush； says that he has 〃seen them looking down to the ground on account of shame；〃 and the missionary； Mr。 Bulmer； remarks that though 〃I have not been able to detect anything like shame in the adult aborigines； I have noticed that the eyes of the children； when ashamed； present a restless； watery appearance； as if they did not know where to look。〃
＇17＇ Quoted by Prichard； Phys。 Hist。 of Mankind； 4th edit。 1851； vol。 i。 p。 225。
＇18＇ Burgess； ibid。 p。 31。 On mulattoes blushing； see p。 33。 I have received similar accounts with respect to； mulattoes。
＇19＇ Barrington also says that the Australians of New South Wales blush； as quoted by Waitz； ibid。 p。 135。
The facts now given are sufficient to show that blushing； whether or not there is any change of colour； is common to most； probably to all； of the races of man。
_Movements and gestures which accompany Blushing_。Under a keen sense of shame there is a； strong desire for concealment。＇20＇ We turn away the whole body； more especially the face； which we endeavour in some manner to hide。 An ashamed person can hardly endure to meet the gaze of those present； so that he almost invariably casts down his eyes or looks askant。 As there generally exists at the same time a strong wish to avoid the appearance of shame； a vain attempt is made to look direct at the person who causes this feeling； and the antagonism between these opposite tendencies leads to various restless movements in the eyes。 I have noticed two ladies who； whilst blushing； to which they are very liable； have thus acquired； as it appears； the oddest trick of incessantly blinking their eyelids with extraordinary rapidity。 An intense blush is sometimes accompanied by a slight effusion of tears；＇21＇ and this； I presume； is due to the lacrymal glands partaking of the increased supply of blood； which we know rushes into the capillaries of the adjoining parts； including the retina。
＇20＇ Mr。 Wedgwood says （Dict。 of English Etymology； vol。 iii。 1865； p。 155） that the word shame 〃may well originate in the idea of shade or concealment； and may be illustrated by the Low German _scheme_； shade or shadow。〃 Gratiolet （De la Phys。 pp。 357…362） has a good discussion on the gestures accompanying shame； but some of his remarks seem to me rather fanciful。 See； also； Burgess （ibid。 pp。 69； 134） on the same subject。
Many writers； ancient and modern； have noticed the foregoing movements； and it has already been shown that the aborigines in various parts of the world often exhibit their shame by looking downwards or askant； or by restless movements of their eyes。 Ezra cries out （ch。 ix。 6）； 〃O； my God！ I am ashamed； and blush to lift up my head to thee； my God。〃 In Isaiah （ch。 I。 6） we meet with the words； 〃I hid not my face from shame。〃 Seneca remarks （Epist。 xi。 5） 〃that the Roman players hang down their heads； fix their eyes on the ground and keep them lowered； but are unable to blush in acting shame。〃 According to Macrobius； who lived in the filth century （‘Saturnalia；' B。 vii。 C。 11）； 〃Natural philosophers assert that nature being moved by shame spreads the blood before herself as a veil； as we see any one blushing often puts his hands before his face。〃 Shakspeare makes Marcus （‘Titus Andronicus；' act ii； sc。 5） say to his niece； 〃Ah！ now thou turn'st away thy face for shame。〃 A lady informs me that she found in the Lock Hospital a girl whom she had formerly known； and who had become a wretched castaway； and the poor creature； when approached； hid her face under the bed…clothes； and could not be persuaded to uncover it。 We often see little children； when shy or ashamed； turn away； and still standing up； bury their faces in their mother's gown； or they throw themselves face downwards on her lap。
＇21＇ Burgess； ibid。 pp。 181； 182。 Boerhaave also noticed （as quoted by Gratiolet； ibid。 p。 361） the tendency to the secretion of tears during intense blushing。 Mr。 Bulmer； as we have seen； speaks of the 〃watery eyes〃 of the children of the Australian aborigines when ashamed。
_Confusion of mind_。Most persons； whilst blushing intensely； have their mental powers confused。 This is recognized in such common expressions as 〃she was covered with confusion。〃 Persons in this condition lose their presence of mind； and utter singularly inappropriate remarks。 They are often much distressed； stammer； and make awkward movements or strange grimaces。 In certain cases involuntary twitchings of some of the facial muscles may be observed。 I have been informed by a young lady； who blushes excessively； that at such times she does not even know what she is saying。 When it was suggested to her that this might be due to her distress from the consciousness that her blushing was noticed； she answered that this could not be the case； 〃as she had sometimes felt quite as stupid when blushing at a thought in her own room。〃
I will give an instance of the extreme disturbance of mind to which some sensitive men are liable。 A gentleman； on whom I can rely； assured me that he had been an eye…witness of the following scene：A small dinner…party was given in honour of an extremely shy man； who； when he rose to return thanks； rehearsed the speech； which he had evidently learnt by heart； in absolute silence； and did not utter a single word； but he acted as if he were speaking with much emphasis。 His friends； perceiving how the case stood； loudly applauded the imaginary bursts of eloquence； whenever his gestures indicated a pause； and the man never discovered that he had remained the whole time completely silent。 On the contrary； he afterwards remarked to my friend； with much satisfaction； that he thought he had succeeded uncommonly well。
When a person is much ashamed or very shy； and blushes intensely； his heart beats rapidly and his breathing is disturbed。 This can hardly fail to affect the circulation of the blood within the brain； and perhaps the mental powers。 It seems however doubtful； judging from the still more powerful influence of anger and fear on the circulation； whether we can thus satisfactorily account for the confused state of mind in persons whilst blushing intensely。
The true explanation apparently lies in the intimate sympathy which exists between the capillary circulation of the surface of the head and face； and that of the brain。 On applying to Dr。 J。 Crichton Browne for information； he has given me various facts bearing on this subject。 When the sympathetic nerve is divided on one side of the head； the capillaries on this side are relaxed and become filled with blood； causing the skin to redden and to grow hot； and at the same time the temperature within the cranium on the same side rises。 Inflammation of the membranes of the brain leads to the engorgement of the face； ears； and eyes with blood。 The first stage of an epileptic fit appears to be the contraction of the vessels of the brain； and the first outward manifestation is； an extreme pallor of countenance。 Erysipelas of the head commonly induces delirium。 Even the relief given to a severe headache by burning the skin with strong lotion； depends； I presume； on the same principle。
Dr。 Browne has often administered to his patients the vapour of the nitrite of amyl；＇22＇ which has the singular property of causing vivid redness of the face in from thirty to sixty seconds。 This flushing resembles blushing in almost every detail： it begins at several distinct points on the face； and spreads till it involves the whole surface of the head； neck； and front of the chest； but has been observed to extend only in one case to the abdomen。 The arteries in the retina become enlarged； the eyes glisten； and in one instance there was a slight effusion of tears。 The patients are at first pleasantly stimulated； but； as the flushing increases； they become confused and bewildered。 One woman to whom the vapour had often been administered asserted that； as soon as she grew hot； she grew MUDDLED。 With persons just commencing to blush it appears； judging from their bright eyes and lively behaviour； that their mental powe
