MEANS OF THE EXPRESSION OF THE EMOTIONS. 295 



■with the ordinary and tonic contraction of the small 

 arteries of that part. These vessels, in consequence, be-- 

 come at such times more or less relaxed, and are in- 

 stantly filled with arterial blood. This tendency will 

 have been much strengthened, if frequent attention has 

 been paid during many generations to the same part, 

 owing to nerve-force readily flowing along accustomed 

 channels, and by the power of inheritance. Whenever 

 we believe that others are depreciating or even consid- 

 ering our personal appearance, our attention is vividly 

 directed to the outer and visible parts of our bodies ; and 

 of all such parts we are most sensitive about our faces, 

 as no doubt has been the case during many past genera- 

 tions. Therefore, assuming for the moment that the cap- 

 illary vessels can be acted on by close attention, those of 

 the face wiU have become eminently susceptible. Through 

 the force of association, the same effects will tend to fol- 

 low whenever we think that others are considering or 

 censuring our actions or character. 



Pa^e 340 ^* ^^ known that the involuntary move- 

 ments of the heart are affected if close atten- 

 tion be paid to them. Gratiolet gives the case of a man 

 who, by continually watching and counting his own pulse, 

 at last caused one beat out of every six to intermit. On 

 the other hand, my father told me of a careful observer, 

 who certainly had heart-disease and died from it, and 

 who positively stated that his pulse was habitually irregu- 

 lar to an extreme degree ; yet to his great disappointment 

 it invariably became regular as soon as my father entered 

 the room. 



