156 EXPRESSION OF SUFFERING: Chap. VI. 



them that nothing would relieve them so much as pro- 

 longed and copious crying. 



The screaming of infants consists of prolonged ex- 

 pirations, with short and rapid, almost spasmodic in- 

 spirations, followed at a somewhat more advanced age 

 by sobbing. According to Gratiolet, 11 the glottis is 

 chiefly affected during the act of sobbing. This sound 

 is heard " at the moment when the inspiration conquers 

 the resistance of the glottis, and the air rushes into the 

 chest." But the whole act of respiration is likewise 

 spasmodic and violent. The shoulders are at the same 

 time generally raised, as by this movement respiration 

 is rendered easier. With one of mv infants, when sev- 

 enty-seven days old, the inspirations were so rapid and 

 strong that they approached in character to sobbing; 

 when 138 days old I first noticed distinct sobbing, which 

 subsequently followed every bad crying-fit. The res- 

 piratory movements are partly voluntary and partly in- 

 voluntary, and I apprehend that sobbing is at least in 

 part due to children having some power to command 

 after early infancy their vocal organs and to stop their 

 screams, but from having less power over their respira- 

 tory muscles, these continue for a time to act in an in- 

 voluntary or spasmodic manner, after having been 

 brought into violent action. Sobbing seems to be pecul- 

 iar to the human species; for the keepers in the Zoologi- 

 cal Gardens assure me that they have never heard a sob 

 from any kind of monkey; though monkeys often scream 

 loudly whilst being chased and caught, and then pant 

 for a long time. We thus see that there is a close anal- 

 ogy between sobbing and the free shedding of tears; for 

 with children, sobbing does not commence during early 

 infancy, but afterwards comes on rather suddenly and 



u 



' De la Physionomie,' 1865, p. 126. 



