OR CONSTITUTIONAL PROPENSITIES. 



481 



in a general view, a tolerably fair index of those of the other. To these 

 heads, genera, or temperaments, I have given the names of sanguineous, 

 bihous or choleric, atrabilious or melancholic, phlegmatic, and nervous. 

 These names and characters, as I have already observed, with the excep- 

 tion of the last, are derived from the Greek physiologists: the principles 

 of animal chemistry on which they are founded, are, in many instances, 

 erroneous ; but the physiological facts which they are designed to illustrate 

 are, for the most part, incontrovertible, and it is not easy to change the 

 general arrangement for a better. 



1. Let us commence with the sanguineous temperament, or that 

 conceived to depend upon a powerful action or peculiar energy of the 

 system of blood-vessels. 



Suppose the heart and arteries, whose harmonious activity produces the 

 circulation of the blood, and throws it over every part of the system, to 

 possess a predominant energy of action, what may we reasonably expect 

 to be the consequence ? The pulse must be strong, frequent, and regular ; 

 the veins blue, full, and large ; the complexion florid ; the countenance 

 animated ; the stature erect ; the figure agreeable, though strongly marked ; 

 the flesh firm, with a proportionate secretion of fat ; the hair of a yellow, 

 auburn, or chesnut colour ; the nervous impressions acute ; the perception 

 quick ; the memory tenacious the imagination lively and luxuriant ; the 

 disposition passionate, but easily appeased ; amorous, and fond of good 

 cheer. ^ 



The diseases of this temperament are few but violent, and are chiefly 

 seated in the circulating system ; as haemorrhages and inflammatory fevers. 

 It shows itself with peculiar prominence in the season of spring ; and es- 

 pecially in the season of youth, which is the spring of life. The best external 

 or corporeal marks of the sanguineous temperament are, perhaps, to be met 

 with in the beautiful statues of Antinous and the Apollo of Belvidere ; the 

 best moral character of it in the lives of Alcibiades and Marc Antony, as 

 drawn by the masterly hand of Plutarch ; and the most perfect type of this 

 construction which has been offered in modern times, is to be found, in 

 the judgment of M. Richerand, from whom I have copied the chief part 

 of this description, in the person of the celebrated duke de Richelieu.* 



If men of this temperament devote themselves to labour of any kind, 

 that demands great muscular exertion, the muscles thus brought into action, 

 and easily supplied with nutrition from the sanguineous system, will acquire 

 considerable increase of size, and produce a subdivision of the sanguineous 

 temperament, which is usually known by the name of athletic or mus- 

 <:ui*AR. In this case, the head is very small ; the neck very strong, par- 

 ticularly behind ; the shoulders are broad ; all the muscles are powerful 

 and prominent, surrounded with strongly marked interstices or cavities ; 

 while the joints, and parts not abounding in muscles, are extenuated, and 

 the direction of the tendons beneath them is obvious and striking. Per- 

 haps the best model we possess of this peculiar constitution is the Farnesian 

 Hercules, of which a good copy is to be found in the hall of the Royal 

 Academy at Somerset-house, and must have been seen by every one who 

 frequentS/the annual exhibitions of that establishment. 



It is this temperament which is bestowed by Homer upon Ajax, and 

 enables him, after receiving the shock of a mountain crag upon his shield-, 

 hurled at him by Hector, to return a still heavier and more eftective blow^ 



* Notiveaux Elemens de Phvsiologicj &c. torn. ii. sect, ccxxix. p. 445. 8ro. Paris, 1804. 



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