Io6 MAN [Chap. VIII 



Letter 471 striped muscle, as figured by Lister? x Do you know whether 

 the tail-coverts of peacock or tail of turkey are erected by 

 unstriped or striped muscles, and whether these are homo- 

 logous with the panniculus or with the single oblique 

 unstriped muscles going to each separate hair in man and 

 many animals ? I wrote some time ago to Kolliker to ask 

 this question (and in relation to quills of porcupine), and I 

 received a long and interesting letter, but he could not answer 

 these questions. If I do not receive any answer (for I know 

 how busy you must be), I will understand you cannot aid me. 



I heard yesterday that Paget was very ill ; I hope this is 

 not true. What a loss he would be ; he is so charming a man. 



P.S. — As I am writing I will trouble you with one other 

 question. Have you seen anything or read of any facts which 

 could induce you to think that the mind being intently and 

 long directed to any portion of the skin (or, indeed, any organ) 

 would influence the action of the capillaries, causing them 

 either to contract or dilate ? Any information on this head 

 would be of great value to me, as bearing on blushing. 



If I remember right, Paget seems to be a great believer in 

 the influence of the mind in the nutrition of parts, and even in 

 causing disease. It is awfully audacious on my part, but I 

 remember thinking (with respect to the latter assertion on 

 disease) when I read the passage that it seemed rather 

 fanciful, though I should like to believe in it. Sir H. Holland 2 

 alludes to this subject of the influence of the mind on local 

 circulation frequently, but gives no clear evidence. 



Letter 472 To W. Turner. 



Down, March 29th [1871]. 

 Forgive me for troubling you with one line. Since writing 

 my P.S. I have read the part on the influence of the nervous 

 system on the nutrition of parts in your last edition of Paget's 

 Lectures} 1 had not read before this part in this edition, and 

 I see how foolish I was. But still, I should be extremely 

 grateful for any hint or evidence of the influence of mental 

 attention on the capillary or local circulation of the skin, or of 



1 Expression of the Emotions, p. 101. 



2 Ibid., pp. 339 et seq. 



3 Lectures on Surgical Pathology, Ed. in., revised by Professor 

 Turner, 1870. 



