ON PATHOGNOMY. 



429 



formed to be revered, the second to be beloved ; and both to be admired and 

 immortalized. 



The closing remark I have to submit is, that each of these temperaments, 

 how widely soever they may differ from each other, is capable of being trans- 

 muted into any of the rest. Galen has particularly dwelt upon this most 

 important fact, and has especially observed that a man of the most elevated 

 and sanguineous constitution may be broken down into a melancholic habit 

 by a long series of anxiety and affliction ; while, on the other hand, the most 

 restless and audacious of the bilious or choleric genus may be attuned to the 

 sleek quiet of the phlegmatic temper by an uninterrupted succession of 

 peaceful luxury and indulgence. Of what moment is this well-established 

 fact in the nice science of education ! The temperaments of boys may be 

 born with them ; but they are capable of alteration, nay, of a total reversion, 

 both in body and mind, each of which may be made to play upon the other; 

 the one by a disciphne of gymnastic exercises, and the other by a discipline 

 of intellectual studies. The Greeks were thoroughly aware of this mutual 

 dependence ; and hence, as we have already seen,* made gymnastic games a 

 regular part of the tuition of the Academy ; thus rearing at one and the same 

 time, and rearing, too, in the self-same persons, a race of heroes and of sages, 

 and turning the wild and savage luxuriance of nature to the noblest harvests 

 of wisdom and virtue. 



LECTURE XII. 



ON PATHOGNOMY, OR THE EXPRESSION OF THE PASSIONS. 



In our last lecture, we examined how far the state of the body has an influ- 

 ence upon that of the mind : in the study we are now entering upon we shall 

 take the opposite side of the question, and examine how far the state of the 

 mind has an influence upon that of the body. 



This influence, if it exist, may be either instantaneous or permanent : it 

 may be produced by some sudden affection or emotion of the mind, exciting 

 an abrupt change in the features, the muscles, or other soft and flexible parts 

 of the body ; or it may result from the habitual character of the moral pro- 

 pensity, slowly and imperceptibly operating on parts that are less pliant, and 

 giving them a fixed and determinate cast. The former constitutes the study 

 of Pathognomy, or of the signs, language, or expression of the passions : the 

 latter, the study of physiognomy, or of the signs, language, or expression of 

 the genius or temper. 



Let us investigate each of these in the order in which I have now stated 

 them ; and devote our present attention to the former of the two. 



Suppose a man of a mild but courageous disposition, reclining at ease, and 

 alone, beneath some overspreading forest tree, on a summer's evening, 

 should be suddenly surprised by the attack of a ruffian, who should attempt 

 to rob or murder him ; what would be the change of feelings and of figure he 

 would undergo ? The tranquillity of his mind would be transmuted into hor- 

 ror, rage, and probably revenge, or an attempt to retaliate ; while the negli- 

 gent ease of his posture, the relaxed muscles of his face, the natural vermeil 

 of hfS cheeks, his half-opened lips, half-closed eyelids, and easy breathing, 

 would suddenly start into tension, energy, suff'usion : he would be instantly 

 on his feet, in an attitude of determined resistance ; still trembling with fear, 

 he would collect all his soul into a strong and desperate effort to overcome 

 the wretch: his muscles would swell with violent rigidity; his heart contract 

 with unusual force and frequency; his lungs heave powerfully; the whole 



* Series ii. Lecture xi. 



