Human Physiology. 217 



a vigorous dry-rubbing, is what every one can practice, and 

 those who do so, and live decently right in other respects, will 

 seldom need doctors or medicine. 



CHAPTER VII. 



IDIOSYNCRASIES. 



The Four Temperaments Nature's Counterpoise to Variations Causes of 

 Idiosyncrasies Singularities Physical and Mental Diseases Moral 

 Responsibility Manias Good Souls in Diseased Bodies Sleep 

 Instincts of Time, Locality, Number. 



CONSTITUTIONS differ. No two persons are exactly alike in 

 form, features, complexion, thought, or feeling, or action. 

 Children of the same family, and especially twin children, 

 sometimes can scarcely be distinguished apart by strangers, but 

 their own families have no such difficulty. It is said that a 

 shepherd knows every sheep in a large flock and men differ 

 more than sheep. Where forms and faces are most alike, 

 expressions differ with difference of emotions. Nature is 

 infinite in variety. 



Ancient observers of human nature classed constitutional 

 peculiarities, idiocrasies or idiosyncrasies, in four tempera- 

 ments the sanguine, phlegmatic or lymphatic, nervous, and 

 bilious or melancholic. Of course they grade into each other, 

 and we have all varieties of compounds. Persons of the 

 sanguine, or sanguineous temperament, have a predominance 

 of blood-vessels and an active circulation, with white skin, 

 fresh colour, light hair inclining to red, blue eyes, and the 

 mind cheerful and volatile. The phlegmatic or lymphatic 

 temperament is a modification of the sanguine, more soft and 



