lis THE PHILOSOPHY 



ly obferving the different organs employed by the fpeaker. 

 By this means we are enabled to correct various defe£ls of 

 fpeech, and even to teach the dumb to fpeak ; for dumbnefs 

 is feldom the eife<St of imperfedtion in the organs of fpeech, 

 but generally arlfes from a want of hearing ; and it is im- 

 poffible for deaf men to imitate founds which they never 

 heard, except they be taught to u{q their organs by vifion 

 and by touching. 



When about to laugh, we make a very full infpiration, 

 which is fucceeded by frequent, interrupted, and fonorous 

 expirations. When the titillation is great, whether it arifes 

 from the mind or body, thefe convuliive expirations fome- 

 times interrupt the breathing to fuch a degree as to endan- 

 ger fuffocation. Moderate laughing, on the contrary, pro- 

 motes health : By agitating the whole body, it quickens the 

 circulation of the blcod, gi\^es an inexpreiiible chearfulnefs 

 to the countenance, and baniflies every kind of anxiety from 

 the mind. 



In weeping, we employ nearly the fame organs as in laugh- 

 ing. It commences with a deep infpiration, which is fuc- 

 ceeded by iliort, broken, fonorous, and difagreeable expira- 

 tions. The countenance has a difmr^l afpe6t, and tears are 

 poured out. Weeping originates from grief, or other pain- 

 ful fenfations either of body or mind : When full vent is 

 given to tears, grief is greatly alleviated. Both laughing 

 and weeping have been reckoned peculiar to man. But 

 this notion feems not to be well founded. Though the 

 other animals exprefs not their pleafures or pains in the farne 

 manner as we do, yet all of them exhibit their pleafant or 

 painful feelings by fymptoms or cries, which are perfe<51:ly 

 underflood by the individuals of each fpecies, and, in many 

 inflances, by man. A dog, when hurt, complains in the bit- 

 tereft terms ; and, when he is afraid, oj; perhaps melancholy, 

 fee exprefles the iituation of his mind by the moft deplora- 



