the expression of emotion in man and animals-第73章
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he face will have become eminently susceptible。 Through the force of association； the same effects will tend to follow whenever we think that others are considering or censuring our actions or character。
As the basis of this theory rests on mental attention having some power to influence the capillary circulation； it will be necessary to give a considerable body of details； bearing more or less directly on this subject。 Several observers；＇33＇ who from their wide experience and knowledge are eminently capable of forming a sound judgment； are convinced that attention or consciousness （which latter term Sir H。 Holland thinks the more explicit） concentrated on almost any part of the body produces some direct physical effect on it。 This applies to the movements of the involuntary muscles； and of the voluntary muscles when acting involuntarily； to the secretion of the glands；to the activity of the senses and sensations；and even to the nutrition of parts。
＇32＇ On the authority of Lady Mary Wortley Montague； see Burgess； ibid。 p。 43。
It is known that the involuntary movements of the heart are affected if close attention be paid to them。 Gratiolet＇34＇ gives the case of a man； who by continually watching and counting his own pulse； at last caused one beat out of every six to intermit。 On the other hand； my father told me of a careful observer； who certainly had heart…disease and died from it； and who positively stated that his pulse was habitually irregular to an extreme degree； yet to his great disappointment it invariably became regular as soon as my father entered the room。 Sir H。 Holland remarks；＇35＇ that 〃the effect upon the circulation of a part from the consciousness suddenly directed and fixed upon it； is often obvious and immediate。〃 Professor Laycock； who has particularly attended to phenomena of this nature；＇36＇ insists that 〃when the attention is directed to any portion of the body； innervation and circulation are excited locally； and the functional activity of that portion developed。〃
＇33＇ In England； Sir H。 Holland was； I believe； the first to consider the influence of mental attention on various parts of the body； in his ‘Medical Notes and Reflections；' 1839 p。 64。 This essay； much enlarged； was reprinted by Sir H。 Holland in his ‘Chapters on Mental Physiology；' 1858； p。 79； from which work I always quote。 At nearly the same time； as well as subsequently； Prof。 Laycock discussed the same subject： see ‘Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal；' 1839； July； pp。 17…22。 Also his ‘Treatise on the Nervous Diseases of Women；' 1840； p。 110； and ‘Mind and Brain；' vol。 ii。 1860； p。 327。 Dr。 Carpenter's views on mesmerism have a nearly similar bearing。 The great physiologist Muller treated （‘Elements of Physiology；' Eng。 translat。 vol。 ii。 pp。 937； 1085） of the influence of the attention on the senses。 Sir J。 Paget discusses the influence of the mind on the nutrition of parts； in his ‘Lectures on Surgical Pathology；' 1853； vol。 i。 p。 39： 1 quote from the 3rd edit。 revised by Prof。 Turner； 1870； p。 28。 See； also； Gratiolet； De la Phys。 pp。 283…287。
＇34＇ De la Phys。 p。 283。
It is generally believed that the peristaltic movements of the intestines are influenced by attention being paid to them at fixed recurrent periods； and these movements depend on the contraction of unstriped and involuntary muscles。 The abnormal action of the voluntary muscles in epilepsy； chorea； and hysteria is known to be influenced by the expectation of an attack； and by the sight of other patients similarly affected。＇37＇ So it is with the involuntary acts of yawning and laughing。
Certain glands are much influenced by thinking of them； or of the conditions under which they have been habitually excited。 This is familiar to every one in the increased flow of saliva； when the thought； for instance； of intensely acid fruit is kept before the mind。〃 It was shown in our sixth chapter； that an earnest and long…continued desire either to repress； or to increase； the action of the lacrymal glands is effectual。 Some curious cases have been recorded in the case of women； of the power of the mind on the mammary glands； and still more remarkable ones in relation to the uterine functions。＇39＇
＇35＇ ‘Chapters on Mental Physiology；' 1858； p。 111。 ＇36＇ ‘Mind find Brain；' vol。 ii。 1860； p。 327。 ＇37＇ ‘Chapters on Mental Physiology；' pp。 104…106。 ＇38＇ See Gratiolet on this subject； De la Phys。 p。 287。 ＇39＇ Dr。 J。 Crichton Browne； from his observations on the insane； is convinced that attention directed for a prolonged period on any part or organ may ultimately influence its capillary circulation and nutrition。 He has given me some extraordinary cases； one of these； which cannot here be related in full； refers to a married woman fifty years of age； who laboured under the firm and long…continued delusion that she was pregnant。 When the expected period arrived； she acted precisely as if she had been really delivered of a child； and seemed to suffer extreme pain； so that the perspiration broke out on her forehead。 The result was that a state of things returned； continuing for three days； which had ceased during the six previous years。 Mr。 Braid gives； in his ‘Magic； Hypnotism；' &c。； 1852； p。 95； and in his other works analogous cases； as well as other facts showing the great influence of the will on the mammary glands； even on one breast alone。
When we direct our whole attention to any one sense； its acuteness is increased；＇40＇ and the continued habit of close attention； as with blind people to that of hearing； and with the blind and deaf to that of touch； appears to improve the sense in question permanently。 There is； also； some reason to believe； judging from the capacities of different races of man； that the effects are inherited。 Turning to ordinary sensations； it is well known that pain is increased by attending to it； and Sir B。 Brodie goes so far as to believe that pain may be felt in any part of the body to which attention is closely drawn。＇41＇ Sir H。 Holland also remarks that we become not only conscious of the existence of a part subjected to concentrated attention； but we experience in it various odd sensations。 as of weight； heat； cold； tingling； or itching。＇42＇
Lastly； some physiologists maintain that the mind can influence the nutrition of parts。 Sir J。 Paget has given a curious instance of the power； not indeed of the mind； but of the nervous system； on the hair。 A lady 〃who is subject to attacks of what is called nervous headache； always finds in the morning after such an one； that some patches of her hair are white； as if powdered with starch。 The change is effected in a night； and in a few days after； the hairs gradually regain their dark brownish colour。＇43＇
＇40＇ Dr。 Maudsley has given （‘The Physiology and Pathology of Mind；' 2nd edit。 1868； p。 105）； on good authority； some curious statements with respect to the improvement of the sense of touch by practice and attention。 It is remarkable that when this sense has thus been rendered more acute at any point of the body； for instance； in a finger； it is likewise improved at the corresponding point on the opposite side of the body。
＇41＇ The Lancet；' 1838； pp。 39…40； as quoted by Prof。 Laycock； ‘Nervous Diseases of Women；' 1840； p。 110。
＇42＇ ‘Chapters on Mental Physiology；' 1858； pp。 91…93。
We thus see that close attention certainly affects various parts and organs； which are not properly under the control of the will。 By what means attentionperhaps the most wonderful of all the wondrous powers of the mindis effected； is an extremely obscure subject。 According to Muller；＇44＇ the process by which the sensory cells of the brain are rendered； through the will； susceptible of receiving more intense and distinct impressions； is closely analogous to that by which the motor cells are excited to send nerve…force to the voluntary muscles。 There are many points of analogy in the action of the sensory and motor nerve…cells； for instance； the familiar fact that close attention to any one sense causes fatigue； like the prolonged exertion of any one muscle。＇45＇ When therefore we voluntarily concentrate our attention on any part of the body； the cel
