278 OF TEMPERAMENTS. SECT. XXXI. i. 



following circumftances, which fhew that the mufcular fibres 

 or organs of fenfe are liable to become torpid or quiefcent from 

 lefs defect of ftimulation than is productive of torpor or quief- 

 cence in other conftitutions. 



i. The firft is the weak pulfe, which in fome coftitutions 

 is at the fame time quick. 2. The next moft marked criterion 

 of this temperament is the largenefs of the aperture of the iris, 

 or pupil of the eye, which has been reckoned by fome a beauti- 

 ful feature in the female countenance, as an indication of deli- 

 cacy, but to an experienced obferver it is an indication of de- 

 bility, and is therefore a defect, not an excellence. The third 

 moft marked circumftance in this conftiturion is, that the ex- 

 tremities, as the hands and feet, or nofe and ears, are liable to 

 beccome cold and pale in fituations in refpett to warmth, where 

 thofe of greater ftrength are not affected. Thofe of this tem- 

 perament are fubjctl to hyfteric affections, nervous fevers, hy- 

 drocephaius, fcroiula, and confumption, and to all other difeafes 

 of debility. 



Thofe, who pofTefs this kind of conftitution, are popularly 

 fuppofed to be more irritable than is natural, but are in reality 

 lefs fo. This miftake has arifen from their generally having a 

 greater quicknefs of pulfe, as explained in Seel. XII. i. 4. XII. 

 3.3; but this frequency of pulfe is not necefiary to the temper- 

 ament, like the debility of it. 



Perfons of this temperament are frequently found amongft 

 the fofter fex, and amongft narrow {houldered men ; who are 

 faid to bear labour worfe, and pain better than others. This 

 laft circumftance is fuppofed to have prevented the natives of 

 North-America from having been made flaves by the Europeans. 

 They are a narrow- fliouldered race of people, and will rather 

 expire under the lafh, than be made to labour. Some nations 

 of Afia have fmall hands, as may be feen by the handles of their 

 fcymetars ; which with their narrow (houlders fhew, that they 

 have not been accuftomed to fo great labour with their hands 

 and arms, as the European nations in agriculture, and thofe on 

 the coafts of Africa in fwimming and rowing. Dr. Manning- 

 ham, a popular accoucheur in the beginning of this century, 

 obferves in his aphorifms, that broad-fhouldered men procreate 

 broad {houldered children. Now as labour ftrengthens the 

 mufcles employed, and increafes their bulk, it woud feem that 

 a few generations of labour or of indolence may in this refpect 

 change the form and temperament of the body. 



On the contrary, thofe who are happily poflefled of a great de- 

 gree of irritability, bear labour better than pain ; and are ftrong, 

 adive, and ingenious. But there is not properly a temperament 



of 



