116 
LaVATER’S 
fpring out the {lender nervous ftrlngs varying In 
proportion to the fenfations produced in the mind ; 
but, although their firength i's not exerted on all oe- 
calions, they act in concert with every nerve irritat- 
ed, as in a general convulfion, arifmg from a dif- 
order of the whole fyllern, when the circulating 
fluid ceafes to flow in fome particular parts* 
It is not, however, from ficknefs alone that pale- 
nefs originates ; for it equally attends fuch fits of 
paflion as convulfe the frame ; but moderate anger 
makes a different impreflion, by animating the coun- 
tenance like a flow of fpirits. 
The chain of connection kept up by the nerves 
is very differently difplayed in fear, terror, melan- 
choly, and fuch other impreffions as are made by an 
indifference or averfion to particular objeCts. The 
fudden change of colour then continues, more or 
lefs, according to the force of fuch fenfations. 
An entire relaxation of the nerves has another 
e.ffecf upon the tubes and conduffors which diftri- 
bute the vital principle: — the niufcular fibres lofe 
their elaftic power ; and as all the organs of fenfa- 
tion abound in the arteries of the face more than in 
any other part, their inactivity flops the red fluid 
from rifing there, and thus occafions the pale colour 
that indicates the want of animation, in every fenfe 
of the word ; for the body correfponds exadtly with 
the mind in reprefenting and (haring all their feel- 
ings. 
riiis 
