Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-11-12
. Ourselves.

.
"Chamber's Information for tho Peopler
contains a long article on the Human Body,
from which we extract the following most m
teresting passage:
'AIan surpasses all other animals in the
height and proportion of the forehead, and
in the comparative mass Of brain in the up
per part Of the skull. In the human head The
lower parts Of the face bear a smaller pro-
portion to the forehead than in the brutes.-
The face is placed in nearly a perpendicular
line with the forehead, instead Of projecting
outwards into a snout, as in the lower ami
mails. The brute face is merely situated for
the purpose of animal wants and for defence;
the jaws are long and narrow, supplied with
thick, strong muscles, and short teeth; there
is not the elevated nose which in man forms
a distinguished feature-the arched eve
brows-the exquisitely formed lips, and the
rounded chin; above all, there is not that play
of varied expression, that air of intelligence,
and that indescIibable emanation of a ration
al mind, that ray Of divinity, at the appear
ance of which the most wild and f~erocious of
the brute creation are awed and subdued.-
But, besides, the Creator seems TO have al
lotted Characteristic external signs TO ex press
the passion OF the mind, that in social life
man might not easily impose on his fellow
man; for the various muscles of the face ex-
press the several passions of the mind so
faithfully, that they may be even represented
in painting. This is said to BIZ the natural
expression, and would appear to be under
stood even by animals; for a dog, on looking
to the countenance Of his master, easily recog-
Misses the mute expressions either of common
dation or dissatisfaction. From the action Of
these muscles being so often repeated, phys
iognomy arises; the action of the prevailing
muscles fixes an enduring expression on the
features; and thus traces Of frequent anger
often remain in 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 passion by
laughter and weeping, manifestations which
are not found in the lower animals. Weep
ing proceeds from a deep emotion in the
mind, and seems an effort of nature to relieve
the system of grief. 1t usually begins with
deep inspirations. of the lungs, after which
follow short alternate inspirations and expi.
r%atlons, and il is finished with a deep long
drawn expiration. which is Immediately fol.
lowed by an inspiration. When moderate, il
certainly relieves the distress arising from
grief. Laughter has its rise from some ludi.
crous IDEAS impressed upon the mind, and
SAA GS,aA ~ hiAOo lOl q " VI lllllldlIO0
conveyed to the branches of certain ~intsInal
nerves, probably those of the disaphragm;
Immediately TO this succeeds a number ofim-
perfect inspirations and expirations, which
seem to be checked by the contraction of the
CLOTHS in the throat or larynx. Laughing in
a moderate degree may be conductive to
health, as it gives impulse to. and Ultimate
~ promotes the circulation; carried TO excess,
however, it may prove dangerous, from accu-
mulating too much blood in the lungs
Sneezing consists of one deep inspiration,
succeeded by a powerful single expiration
and seems to consist of a convulsiye effort
OF the muscles of breathing to throw off some
cause of irritation in tho sensitive membrane
of the ~nostrils. The common hiccup is a
spasmodic action Of the common muscles of
the stomach itself. Some Of the causes by
which our mental happiness is either ~increas-
ed or diminished, proceeds entirely from the
bodily sensations. Any gentle stimulous
applied to a nerve seem to cause a feeling
OF pleasure; strong stimuli, or causes distur-
blng seriously the natural condition. produce
pain, Itching is akin 10 pleasure. and in
both cases the flow Of blood is increased into
The part into which either pleasure or ,itiIIa.
hon is perceived; but when farther Increased,
H. degenerates into pain, or excessive sensa.
tons in the nerves. Anger violently excites
the motion of the spirits, increases the mo.
uon OF the heart, the frequency of the pulse,
and the strength of the muscles; folees, ,hs
ADiooo into the extreme vessels; and aver
sometimes bursts the smaller vessels item,