VOICE AND SPEECH. 515 



" Sneezing, generally the consequence of an irritation of the 

 mucous membrane of the nostrils," though the glare of the sun 

 upon the eyes will produce it, "is a violent and almost con-, 

 vulsive expiration, preceded by a short and violent inspiration." q 

 In sneezing, the opening of the fauces is lessened, and the head 

 bent back, that the current may be directly through the nostrils, 

 in which the irritation generally exists. 



t( Hiccup, on the contrary, is a sonorous, very short, and 

 almost convulsive, inspiration, excited by an unusual irritation of" 

 the stomach, and Blumenbach says only of " the cardia." r In 

 hiccup, I think that, after the inspiration has proceeded a certain 

 length, the glottis closes, and the diaphragm endeavours in vain 

 to contract farther. 



" In crying there are deep inspirations, quickly alternating 

 with long and occasionally interrupted expirations. 



" Signing is a long and deep inspiration, and the subsequent 

 expiration is sometimes accompanied by groaning. l 



" Nearest in relation to sighing is gaping", which is produced 

 by a full, slow, and long, inspiration, followed by a similar ex- 

 piration, the jaws at the same time being drawn asunder, so that 

 the air rushes into the open fauces and the Eustachian tubes." 

 We gape chiefly during fatigue or hunger; when we are but half 

 awake, either before or after sleep ; and in ague and hysteria, 

 " It occurs from the blood passing through the lungs too slowly: 

 v. c. when the pressure of the air on the body is diminished, as 

 upon very high mountains." A peculiar feature of gaping is the 

 propensity it excites in others to gape likewise. This is uni- 

 versally remarked. But the fact is included in the more general 

 fact of gaping being excited by merely thinking of it, whatever 

 be the means of association by which it enters into our thoughts, 

 whether by seeing it represented in a picture, by reading of it, or 

 having it mentioned to us. If this is the case, the view of others 

 gaping may well be supposed sufficient to excite it. 



q Marc. Beat. L. J. Porta, De Sterriutatione. Basil. 1755. 4to.'^ 

 r " C. J. Sig. Thiel, De Singultu. Gutting. 1761. 4to." 

 3 "J. F. Schreiber, De Fletu. L. B. 1728. 4to." 

 1 " Dav. C. Em. Berdot, De Susplrio. Basil. 1756. 4to." 

 u "Just. Godofr. Giinz, (Praeside Walthero) De Oscitaiio7ie. Lips. 1738. 

 4to." 



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