6% HISTORY OF 



The skin is the only part of the body that age 

 does not contribute to harden. That stretches 

 to every degree of tension ; and we have horrid 

 instances of its pliancy, in many disorders in- 

 cident to humanity. In youth, therefore, while 

 the body is vigorous and increasing, it still gives 

 way to its growth. But, although it thus adapts 

 itself to our increase, it does not in the same 

 manner conform to our decay. The skin, which 

 in youth was filled and glossy, when the body 

 begins to decline has not elasticity enough to 

 shrink entirely with its diminution. It hangs, 

 therefore, in wrinkles, which no art can remove. 

 The wrinkles of the body, in general, proceed 

 from this cause : But those of the face seem to 

 proceed from another; namely, from the many 

 varieties of positions into which it is put by the 

 speech, the food, or the passions. Every grimace, 

 and every passion, wrinkles up the visage into dif- 

 ferent forms. These are visible enough in young 

 persons ; but what at first was accidental, or tran- 

 sitory, becomes unalterably fixed in the visage as 

 it grows older. " From hence we may conclude, 

 that a freedom from passions not only adds to the 

 happiness of the mind, but preserves the beauty of 

 the face ; and the person that has not felt their 

 influence, is less strongly marked by the decays of 

 nature." 



Hence, therefore, as we advance in age, the 

 bones, the cartilages, the membranes, the flesh, 

 the skin, and every fibre of the body, become 

 more solid, more brittle, and more dry. Every 

 part shrinks, every moti9n becomes more slow ; 



