Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-05-27


Chambers Information for the People" contains
long article on the Human Body, from which we
extract the following interesting passage
"Man surpasses all other animals in the height |
and proportions Of the forehead and in the com
paralve mass Of brain in the upper part Of tile skull
In the human head, the lower part of the face bears
smaller proportion 10 the forehead than in brutes
The face is placed in nearly perpendicular line
with the forehead, instead of projecting outwards
into a snout as in TIL lower animals. The brute
face is merely suited for the purpose Of animal
wants and for defence the jaws are long and mar
row, supplied with thick, stroug muscles and short
teeth there is not the elevated nose which in man
forms a distinguishing leature-the archcd eye.
brows, the exquisiely formed lips, and the round
chin; above ALL there is not tina, play Of varied ex.
preston, that air Of intelligence, and that ndescr-
bable emanatlon OF rational mind, that ray OF d.
yiniiy at the appearance of which the most wild
and lerocious of the brute creation we'd and
subdued But besides, the Creator seems 10 have
allotted Characteristic external signs to express the
passions Of the mind that in social life man might
rot easily impose on his fellow man for the va.
rious muscles of the face express the several pas
sons Of the mind so faithfully, that they may even
be represented in painting. This is said to be the
natural expression, and would appear to be under.
stood even by animals; for dog, on looking to The
COuUlenduCe OF MS uldSltf, tdsll ItCoBuiLcs tue
mute expression Of commentator or dissatisfac-
ton. From the action Of these muscles being
often repeated physiognomy arises; the action OF
the prevailing muscles fixes an enduring expression
or tie features; and thus traces Of frequent anger
often remain 10 the countenance after the passion
itself is gone Off With the power Of speech and
reason man has also the means Of expressing his
feelings and passions by laughter aud weeping
manifestations which are not found in the lower
Il. L. fr1,., ttAu
OF the mind, and seems an effort of nature 10 re-
lieve the system Of grief 1t usually begins with
deep inspirations and is finished with a deep long
drawn expiration which is Immediately followed by
an inspiration. When moderate, il certainly re-
lieves the distress arising from grief. Laughter has
lis rise from some ludicrous ideas impressed upon
the mind, and would seem to arise directly from a
sort OF Utilization conveyed TO the branches of GER
tain internal nerves. probably those of the dia-
phragm; Immediately to this succeeds a number
of imperfect inspirations. and which seem 10 be
checked by the contraction Of the CLOTHS in the
! throat or larynx. Laughing in moderate degree
may be conducive 10 health, as il gives impulse 10,
and ultimately promotes the circulation; carried
to excess, however, it may prove dangerous from
accommodating too much blood in the lungs Sneez-
| ing consists Of deep inspiration, succeeded by
powerful single expiration, aud seems to consist
] Of a convulsve effort Of the muscles Of breathing
10 throw of some cause of irritation in the
tive membrane of the nostrs. The common hic-
cup is a spasmodic action Of the muscles OF the
stomach ITSELF Some OF the causes by which our
4 mental happiness is either increased diminished
proceed entirely from the bodily sensations. Any
I gentle stimulus applied TO nerve seems TO cause
feeling Of pleasure; strong Stimuli or causes dis
turbng seriously the natural condition, produce
pain Itching is akin TO pleasure, and in both ca
ses the flow Of blood is increased into the part IL
which either pleasure or Utilization u perceived
but when farther increased, il drgeneraies int,
pain, or excessive seh-ations 10 the nerves. Ange
violeny excies the motion Of the spirits, increases
the action of the heart the frequency Of the pulse
> and the strength OF the muscles forces the bloo
into the extreme vessels and sometimes even burst
the smaller vessels themselves; passions also in
crease the secretion Of bile. Grief weakens III
strength Of The nerves aud the activity OF the heart
reiards the pulse, destroys the appetite, and fire
quenty produces paleness looseness OF the bowels
and those low and lingering diseases that take hei
rise from an interruption OF the secreting glands
and disease Of their structure. Fear dimnishe
the force Of the heart, weakens the muscular me
a tons, rcaxes the whole SYSTEM and, If long cor
P tinued, causes general sinking Of the body. E,
0 cessive terror often increases for the moment III
muscular strength, even TO commissions; excites III
: pulse; interrupts the course OF the blood and i
i not few instances occasions sudden death. Love
: hope, and Joy promote all the salutary actions
i the body, gently quicken the pulse, promote circ'
lation, increase the appetite, and aid the cure
i diseases. Excessive and sudden transports Of jo
however, often prove fatal, by increasing The mt
:, ton Of the blood, and exciting fit OF apoplex
), Shame in peculiar manner retains the blood
the face, as if the veins we're obstructed when e
Il 10 an extreme degree, il has also been known
n prove the cause Of sudden DEATH"