Chap. XIII. BLUSHING. 311 



deaf, blushes. 4 The Rev. E. H. Blair, Principal of the 

 Worcester College, informs me that three children born 

 blind, out of seven or eight then in the Asylum, are 

 great blushers. The blind are not at first conscious that 

 they are observed, and it is a most important part of their 

 education, as Mr. Blair informs me, to impress this 

 knowledge on their minds; and the impression thus 

 gained would greatly strengthen the tendency to blush, 

 by increasing the habit of self -attention. 



The tendency to blush is inherited. Dr. Burgess 

 gives the case 5 of a family consisting of a father, mother, 

 and ten children, all of whom, without exception, were 

 prone to blush to a most painful degree. The children 

 were grown up; " and some of them were sent to travel 

 in order to wear away this diseased sensibility, but noth- 

 ing was of the slightest avail." Even peculiarities in 

 blushing seem to be inherited. Sir James Paget, whilst 

 examining the spine of a girl, was struck at her singular 

 manner of blushing; a big splash of red appeared first 

 on one cheek, and then other splashes, variously scat- 

 tered over the face and neck. He subsequently asked 

 the mother whether her daughter always blushed in 

 this peculiar manner; and was answered, " Yes, she 

 takes after me." Sir J. Paget then perceived that by 

 asking this question he had caused the mother to 

 blush; and she exhibited the same peculiarity as her 

 daughter. 



In most cases the face, ears and neck are the sole 

 parts which redden; but many persons, whilst blushing 

 intensely, feel that their whole bodies grow hot and 

 tingle; and this shows that the entire surface must be 

 in some manner affected. Blushes are said sometimes 



4 Lieber 'On the Vocal Sounds,' &c; Smithsonian Con- 

 tributions, 1851, vol. ii. p. 6. 

 e Ibid. p. 182. 



