108 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH, 



than in health. The heart beats faster when we are stand- 

 ing than when we are sitting, and faster when sitting than 

 when lying down. The pulsation is more rapid in the morn- 

 ing than in the evening in females and in children than 

 in males and adults. All exercise increases the force and 

 rapidity of the circulation. The rapid and sometimes vio- 

 lent beating of the heart when we are running, or -making 

 great exertions, is familiar to every one. 



234. While the body or any of its parts is in motion, the 

 changes of the particles go on more rapidly, there is more 

 waste, consequently greater need of nutrition, ( 127, page 

 61 ;) and, to meet this want, the heart quickens its action and 

 sends more blood to the frame. There is a great difference 

 between the pulse of the active boy and that of the sleeping 

 babe. The pulsations of the laborer are strong and hard ; 

 his heart forces the blood vigorously into the arteries, arid 

 they are distended, full, and feel hard. But the pulse of the 

 indolent man is soft and feeble. He takes no exercise ; 

 the changes of particles are few and slow; there is little waste 

 and little need of nutrition; and, consequently/ his heart 

 sends the blood gently, an'd oftentimes feebly, through the 

 arteries. 



235. The circulation is affected by the states of the mind 

 and the feelings. The heart beats with more force and rapid- 

 ity under mental or emotional excitement; than the arteries 

 beat with more firmness, and carry more blood. So when a 

 man is excited with anger, or stimulated with hope, or glow- 

 ing with cheerfulness, or burning with love, his blood, flows 

 more freely, his system is better nourished, and he is stronger 

 and more capable of exertion. The depressing passions 

 have the opposite effect of lowering the.action of the heart, 

 and the force of the circulation. While a man is suffering 

 with fear, despair, sorrow, or gloom, his heart beats more 

 feebly, and his blood flows more languidly ; his body is less 

 nourished, his strength is impaired, and he has kss power of 

 labor. 



