CH. iii.J ACTIONS OF DESIRES OR AVERSIONS. 129 



excited, which are not dependent on the external impression 

 (81, 94). 



259. The effects of the pleasing or distressing instincts and 

 emotions on the organism, are regulated by the same laws as 

 those of simple pleasure or pain (191 — 199), or of the agree- 

 able or distressing foreseeings, (245, ii, 252, &c.) Consequently, 

 every kind of joy is beneficial to health, all sorrow injurious ; 

 but the former may be injurious too, if excessive (252). 



260. The direct sentient actions of the sensational pro- 

 pensities and emotions, are produced according to the same laws 

 as those of sensational pleasure and pain. (Compare 254, 199.) 



261. It may be useful to illustrate these views by special 

 facts. 



i. Observations prove, that in the propensities and emotions, 

 the actions of the coming foreseen external sensation therein 

 imperfectly expressed, are produced (257). In the appetite for 

 food, the gratification of which is the taking of nutriment, saliva 

 is poured out into the mouth, as if nutriment were taken ; in 

 the sexual appetite, the gratification of which is copulation, the 

 organs of generation are put into a condition suitable to its 

 gratification ; in the desire to give suck, the satisfaction for which 

 is the discharge of milk from the nipples during suckling, the 

 nipples become erect, and there is a flow of milk towards them. 

 In the desire of children to suck, the lips are placed in a pro- 

 per position, and the child sucks the air. In the desire for 

 revenge, the satisfaction of which is an injury to the individual 

 who has offended, the natural weapons partly manifest the 

 functions whereby they inflict injury ; animals put their stings 

 or claws into action ; they eject or pour forth their poison ; 

 they endeavour to bite, to strike, to tear ; man doubles his fist, 

 stamps, and gnashes, as he would do if actually taking revenge. 

 In terror, the satisfaction of which is the averting of a great 

 impending danger, the struggles for preservation are seen in 

 starting back, stooping, leaping, standing still, &c. In shame, 

 the satisfaction of which emotion is the avoidance of the glance 

 of the person whose contempt we fear to perceive, we drop the 

 eyelids, and endeavour to withdraw ourselves as much as possible 

 from that glance, &c. 



ii. That the propensities and emotions connected with im- 

 perfect external sensations, excite the mechanical machines 



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