ON POSTCRE AND ITS INDICATIONS. 



27 



2). It is a matter of ancient observation that such an attitude as 

 this is associated with weak circulation, and it is probably more 

 than three thousand years ago that the injunction was given : 

 " Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees ; say 

 to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not" (Is. xxxv, 



Fm. 3. 



Fig. 4. 



3, 4).* When the heart is stimulated by joy or hope, the attitude 

 again becomes erect, and the gait brisk and elastic. It is by no 

 means easy to distinguish exactly between the part played in this 

 change by the motor cells of the nerve-centers and by the circula- 

 tory apparatus, for the activity of the motor cells on which mus- 

 cular action depends is itself influenced to an enormous extent by 

 the circulation of blood through the nerve-centers. We find an 

 example of this in the attitude unconsciously assumed by any one 

 engaged in conversation or argument. So long as he takes only 

 a listless interest in the subject under discussion he may lie back 



Fig. 5. 



Fig. 6. 



in the chair with his legs crossed and his arms either hanging 

 down or his hands laid loosely in his lap (Fig. 3). As his interest 

 increases his attitude becomes more erect (Fig. 4), and he sits 

 straight up, with his hands folded or laid upon his knees instead 



* Also, " Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight 

 paths for your feet " (Heb. xii, 12). 



