-» 7 S OF TEMPERAMENTS. Sect. XXXI. u 



following circumftances, which (hew that the mufcular fibres 

 or organs of tenfe are liable to become torpid or quiefcent from 

 lefs defect of ftimulation than is productive of torpor or quief- 

 cence in other conltitutions. 



i. The firft is the weak pulfe, which in fome conltitutions 

 is at the fame time quick. 2. The next mod marked criterion 

 of this temperament is the largenefs of the aperture of the iris, 

 or pupil of the eye, which has been reckoned by fome a beauti- 

 ful feature in the female countenance, as an indication of deli- 

 cacy, but to an experienced obferver it is an indication of de- 

 bility, and is therefore a defect, not an excellence. The third 

 molt marked circumftance in this conftitution is, that the ex- 

 tremities, as the hands and feet, or nofe and ears, are liable to 

 become cold and pale in fituations in refpect to warmth, where 

 thofe of greater ftrength are not affected. Thofe of this tem- 

 perament are fubject to hyfteric affections, nervous fevers, hy- 

 drocephalus, fcrofula, and confumption, and to all other difeafes 

 of debility. 



Thofe, who poflefs this kind of conftitution, are popularly 

 Tuppofed to be more irritable than is natural, but are in reality 

 Jeis fo. This miftake has arifen from their generally having a 

 greater quicknefs of pulfe, as explained in Sect. XII. 1. 4. XII. 

 3. 3 j but this frequency of pulfe is not neceflary to the temper- 

 ament, like the debility of it. 



rions of this temperament are frequently found amongft 

 the fofter fex, and amongft narrow mouldered men ; who are 

 laid to bear labour worfe, and pain better than others. This 

 jail circumftance is fuppofed to have prevented the natives of 

 North America from having been made flaves by.the Europeans. 

 They are a narrow-mouldered race of people, and will rather 

 expire under the lafh, than be made to labour. Some nations 

 of Afia have fmail hands, as may be feen by the handles of their 

 fcymetars; which with their narrow flioulders (hew, that they 

 have not been accuftomed to fo great labour with their hands 

 and arms, as the European nations in agriculture, and thofe on 

 the coafls of Africa in fwimming and rowing. Dr. Mannin - 

 ham, a popular accoucheur in the beginning of this century, 

 obfv-rves in his aphorifms, that oroad-fhouldered men procreate 

 broad-ih uldered children. Now as labour ftrengthens the 

 mufcleg employed, and nrcreafes their bulk, it would feein that 

 a few generations of labour or of indolence may in this refpe/ft 

 change the form and temperament of the bod v. 



On the contrary; thofe who are happily poffefled of a great de- 

 gree of irritability, bear labour better than pain •, and arc ftrong, 



•ve, and ingenious. But there is not properly a temperament 



of 



