18681874] EXPRESSION 109 



kindness. I want now to beg a favour of you, if you have the Letter 475 

 means to grant it. A clergyman, the head of an institution 

 for the blind in England, 1 has been observing the expression 

 of those born blind, and he informs me that they never or 

 very rarely frown. He kept a record of several cases, but at 

 last observed a frown on two of the children who he thought 

 never frowned ; and then in a foolish manner tore up his 

 notes, and did not write to me until my book was published. 

 He may be a bad observer and altogether mistaken, but I 

 think it would be worth while to ascertain whether those born 

 blind, when young, and whilst screaming violently, contract 

 the muscles round the eyes like ordinary infants. And 

 secondly, whether in after years they rarely or never frown. 

 If it should prove true that infants born blind do not contract 

 their orbicular muscles whilst screaming (though I can hardly 

 believe it) it would be interesting to know whether they 

 shed tears as copiously as other children. The nature of the 

 affection which causes blindness may possibly influence the 

 contraction of the muscles, but on all such points you will 

 judge infinitely better than I can. Perhaps you could get 

 some trustworthy superintendent of an asylum for the blind 

 to attend to this subject. I am sure that you will forgive me 

 asking this favour. 



To D. Hack Tuke. Letter 476 



Down, Dec. 22nd, 1872. 



I have now finished your book, 2 and have read it with 

 great interest. 



Many of your cases are very striking. As I felt sure 

 would be the case, I have learnt much from it ; and I should 

 have modified several passages in my book on Expression, if 

 I had had the advantage of reading your work before my 

 publication. I always felt, and said so a year ago to Professor 

 Bonders, that I had not sufficient knowledge of Physiology 

 to treat my subject in a proper way. 



With many thanks for the interest which I have felt in 

 reading your work . . . 



1 The Rev. R. H. Blair, Principal of the Worcester College: Expression 

 of the Emotions, Ed. II., p. 237. 



2 Influence of the Mind upon the Body. Designed to elucidate the 

 Power of the Imagination, 1872 



