278 PHYSICAL EXPKESSION. 



in studying the physical forces affecting motor 

 action, a method may be found by which we may 

 gain further knowledge of the processes of nutrition. 

 Working towards this object, we proceed to show 

 how the expression of development and other 

 conditions may be described by series of movements 

 and trophic actions ; this will principally be demon- 

 strated by examples. 



Examine kinetic and trophic combinations in an 

 infant. Is there not as much expression in the 

 kinetic activities and successions as in the trophic 

 actions, variations, and growth ? 



We say a body is well proportioned, or ill propor- 

 tioned, large headed, small bodied, big mouthed, etc. 

 All are expressions indicating the results of pro- 

 portional development ; the development or growth 

 is the result of a series of trophic actions ; the series 

 may be well proportioned according to the normal. 

 So the series of movements may be the normal or 

 not. If the trophic series be abnormal the kinetic 

 series is apt to be abnormal. In an infant, ill-pro- 

 portioned in its head and body, the movements, 

 combinations, and series of movements, and the 

 reflex actions, are apt to be abnormal. The trophic 

 abnormality is an expression that probably the 

 movements and reflexes will be abnormal. In an 

 idiot the movements are automatic in uniform 

 series, in place of being varied as in health ; the 

 trophic action also occurs in abnormal series pro- 

 ducing abnormal growth. 



Expression may be described by series of move- 

 ments and trophic actions. A series or succes- 



