14 NATURAL HISTORY. 



to attend. Skriching is an appetite of expelling that 

 which suddenly striketh the spirits : for it must be 

 noted that many motions, though they be unprofitable 

 to expel that which hurteth, yet they are offers of nat 

 ure, and cause motions by consent ; as in groaning or 

 crying upon pain. 



714. Grief and pain cause sighing, sobbing, groan 

 ing, screaming and roaring, tears, distorting of the 

 face, grinding of the teeth, sweating. Sighing is 

 caused by the drawing in of a greater quantity of 

 breath to refresh the heart that labouretli ; like a great 

 draught when one is thirsty. Sobbing is the same 

 thing stronger. Groaning, and screaming, and roar 

 ing, are caused by an appetite of expulsion, as hath 

 been said : for when the spirits cannot expel the thing 

 that hurteth, in their strife to do it, by motion of con 

 sent they expel the voice. And this is when the spirits 

 yield, and give over to resist : for if one do constantly 

 resist pain, he will not groan. Tears are caused by 

 a contraction of the spirits of the brain ; which con 

 traction by consequence astringeth the moisture of the 

 brain, and thereby sendeth tears into the eyes. And 

 this contraction or compression causeth also wringing 

 of the hands ; for wringing is a gesture of expression 

 of moisture. The distorting of the face is caused by 

 a contention, first to bear and resist, and then to ex 

 pel ; which maketh the parts knit first, and afterwards 

 open. Grinding of the teeth is caused likewise by a 

 gathering and serring of the spirits together to resist ; 

 which maketh the teeth also to set hard one against 

 another. Sweating is also a compound motion, by 

 the labour of the spirits first to resist, and then to 

 expel. 



