Chap. XIII. BLUSHING. 339 



invariably became regular as soon as my father entered 

 the room. Sir H. Holland remarks, 35 that " the effect 

 upon the circulation of a part from the consciousness 

 suddenly directed and fixed upon it, is often obvious and 

 immediate." Professor Laycock, who has particularly 

 attended to phenomena of this nature, 30 insists that 

 " when the attention is directed to any portion of the 

 body, innervation and circulation are excited locally, 

 and the functional activity of that portion developed." 



It is generally believed that the peristaltic move- 

 ments of the intestines are influenced by attention being 

 paid to them at fixed recurrent periods; and these move- 

 ments depend on the contraction of unstriped and in- 

 voluntary muscles. The abnormal action of the vol- 

 untary muscles in epilepsy, chorea, and hysteria is known 

 to be influenced by the expectation of an attack, and by 

 the sight of other patients similarly affected. 37 So it is 

 with the involuntary acts of yawning and laughing. 



Certain glands are much influenced by thinking of 

 them, or of the conditions under which they have been 

 habitually excited. This is familiar to every one in 

 the increased flow of saliva, when the thought, for in- 

 stance, of intensely acid fruit is kept before the mind. 38 

 It was shown in our sixth chapter, that an earnest and 

 long-continued desire either to repress, or to increase, 

 the action of the lacrymal glands is effectual. Some 

 curious cases have been recorded in the case of women, 

 of the power of the mind on the mammary glands; and 

 still more remarkable ones in relation to the uterine 

 functions. 39 



35 ' Chapters on Mental Physiology,' 1858, p. 111. 



36 ' Mind and Brain,' vol. i'i. I860,' p. 327. 



37 ' Chapters on Mental Physiology,' pp. 104-106. 



38 See Gratiolet on this subject, De la Phys. p. 287. 



39 Dr. J. Crichton Browne, from his observations on the 

 insane, is convinced that attention directed for a prolonged 



