308 Mr. Bell on the nerves which associate the muscles 
with hesitating and bewildered steps, his eyes are rapidly 
and wildly in search of something. In this we only perceive 
the intent application of his mind to the objects of his appre- 
hensions, and its direct influence on the outward organs. But 
when we observe him farther, there is a spasm on his breast : 
he cannot breathe freely : the chest remains elevated, and his 
respiration is short and rapid : there is a gasping and con- 
vulsive motion of his lips : a tremor on his hollow cheeks : a 
gulping and catching of his throat : his heart knocks at his 
ribs, while yet there is no force in the circulation, the lips 
and cheeks being ashy pale. 
It is obvious that there is here a reflected influence in ope- 
ration. The language and sentiments of every people have 
pointed to the heart, as the seat of passion, and every indivi- 
dual must have felt its truth. For though the heart be not 
in the proper sense the seat of passion, it is influenced by the 
conditions of the mind, and from thence its influence is ex- 
tended through the respiratory organs, so as to mount to the 
throat, and lips, and cheeks, and account for every move- 
ment in passion, which is not explained by the direct influence 
of the mind upon the features. 
So we shall find, if we attend to the expression of grief, 
that the same phenomena are presented ; and we may cata- 
logue them, as it were, anatomically. Imagine the over- 
whelming influence of grief — the object in the mind has ab- 
sorbed the powers of the frame ; the body is no more re- 
garded, the spirits have left it ; it reclines, and the limbs 
gravitate, the whole body is nerveless and relaxed, and the 
person scarcely breathes ; so far there is no difficulty in com- 
prehending the effect in the cause. But why, at intervals, is 
