FEAR. 191 



and be distended into a bladder or membrane ; incapable of anything 

 but the most passive recipiency. 



It is contended on this view that there is a representation of the 

 mind by the heart in the manner in which the latter equilibrates 

 the blood by the channels of the coronaries; for the passages may 

 vary in different hearts. Thus in case the blood has a tendency to 

 run out of the heart through these avenues into the aorta, it repre- 

 sents a want of firmness and courage; and universally during fear 

 the systemic arteries empty themselves, and the blood runs away 

 into the veins. On the other hand, when the blood tends to keep 

 in the heart, and to press back into the right auricle, it indicates a 

 firmness and strength of the nervous, arterial and venous systems. 

 And in this way these animal qualities are based upon the construc- 

 tion, tendencies or habitual channeling of the heart. Now we know 

 from our sensations that different feelings cause different actions in 

 our breasts; for example, that in hard and firm resolve, the heart 

 seems to stand its ground, and not to let one soldier-globule ooze 

 away; that in moments of timidity the pit-a-pat of flight and dis- 

 array seizes, and the ear-drum beats the inglorious tune of " devil 

 take the hindmost :" also that in melting moods the heart goes with 

 the eyes and lips, slipping and trickling away from its station as it 

 were a tear. Further, we know that courage and fear are constitu- 

 tional to certain persons. And can we doubt that their constant 

 action upon the heart, implies in the first place a corresponding fa- 

 bric in that organ, and in the second, a continual alteration of the 

 fabric, as the mental state and circumstances vary. For it is to be 

 said that the principles of the mind will govern even the heart, and 

 make cowards brave in the second nature and strength of conscience, 

 or abash the lion-hearted when that higher spirit of courage is gone. 



While we are upon this theme we will take the opportunity to 

 digress for a moment, to dwell again upon the consistency of the 

 body as exemplified in this passion of fear ; a consistency which we 

 have already shown to some extent while treating of the lungs (pp. 

 108 — 119). Now in fear the heart is bloodless, for the blood, as 

 we said before, has run away from it; the lungs are aghast or ghost- 

 less; the brain is mindless, and consciousness gives place to fainting; 

 and the man embodies all this by himself either sinking down, or 



