THE PAST SEEN IN THE FACE. 199 



This, I believe, is due to slight absorption or shrink- 

 ing of the fat of the face, leading to very fine 

 wrinkling of the skin, which then reflects light in 

 such a manner as to look dull. The dull skin looks 

 bright, if it be stretched ; a temporary afflux of 

 blood accompanying a state of mental excitement 

 often makes the face look bright, because it swells 

 up the tissues and stretches the skin, thus removing 

 the wrinkles and the cause of dulness of the 

 countenance. 



If we examine the face of a man, say, thirty years 

 old, we may observe 



(1) The passive conditions resulting from heredity. 



(2) The present trophic condition, the state of 

 nutrition. 



(3) The marks or permanent impressions made 

 by the nerve-muscular actions during thirty years. 



(4) The nerve-muscular condition at the time of 

 observation. 



This shows the necessity for balancing the different 

 modes of expression, and, while observing the total 

 expression, assigning the due value to each of its 

 factors. We have spoken of the impressions made 

 by the nerve-muscular actions of preceding years ; 

 if the muscular action in the face due to the condi- 

 tion of brain which accompanies mental anxiety has 

 been often repeated during many years, it leaves 

 permanent marks upon the tissues of the face. 



The expression of mental anxiety may be con- 

 trasted with that of bodily suffering. Mental anxiety 

 is expressed mainly in the upper zone of the face ; 

 contraction of the corrugators makes vertical furrows 



