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Show INTRODUCrriON. ],rench writers the sourcilier (corrugator supm~cilii), remarks with truth:- " Cette .. action des sourciliers est " un des symptomes les plus tranches de l' expression " des affections penibles ou concentrees." He then adds that these muscles, fro1n their attachment and position, are fitted "a resserrer, ~ conce~trer les princi" paux traits de la face, com me 1l conv1ent dans toutes " ces passions vraiment oppressives ou profondes, dans " ces affections dont le sentiment semble porter l'orga" nisation a revenir sur elle-meme, a se contracter et "a s'amoindrir, cmnme pour o:ITrir moins de prise et de "surface a des impressions redoutables ou importunes." He who thinks that remarks of this kind throw any light on the meaning or origin of the different expressions, takes a very different view of the subject to what I do. In the above passage there is but a slight, if any, · advance in the philosophy of the subject, beyond that reached by the painter Le Brun, who, in 1667, in describing the expression of fright, says:-" Le sourcil ,, qui est abaisse d'un cote et eleve de l'autre, fait voir " que la partie elevee semble le vouloir joinclre au " cerveau pour le garantir du mal que l'ame aper9oit, '' et le cote qui est abaissc et qui parait enfle, nous fait " trouver dans cet etat par les esprits qui viennent du " cerveau en a b on da nce, comme pour couvn. r l'"a rne e t " la defendre du mal qu' elle craint ; la bouche fort '' ouverte fait voir le saisissement du creur, par le " sang qui se retire vers lui, ce qui l'oblige, voulant " respirer, a faire un effort qui est cause que la bouche " s'ouvre extremement, et qui, lorsqu'il passe par les " organes de la voix, forn1e un son qui n'est point " articule; que si les muscles et les veines paraissent " en fle's , ce n'e st que par les esprits que le cerveau " envoie en res parties-la." I have thought the fore- INTRODUCTION. 5 going sentences worth quoting, as specimens of the surprising nonsense which has been written on the subject. 'The Physiology or Mechanism of Blushing,' by Dr. Burgess, appeared in 1839, and to this work I shall frequently refer in my thirteenth Chapter. In 1862 Dr. Duchenne published two editions, in folio and octavo, of his 'Mecanisme de la Physionomie 'Humaine,' in which he analyses by means of electricity, and illustrates by magnificent photographs, the movements of the facial muscles. He has generously permitted me to copy as many of his photographs as I desired. His works haye been spoken lightly of, or quite passed over, by some of his countrymen. It it; possible that Dr. Duchenne may have exaggerated the importance of the contraction of single muscles in giving expression; for, owing to the intimate manner in which the muscles are connected, as may be seen in Henle's anatomical drawings 7 -the best I believe ever published-it is difficult to believe in their separate action. Nevertheless, it is manifest that Dr. Duchenne clearly apprehended this and other sources of error, and as it is known that he was eminently successful in elucidating the physiology of the muscles of the hand .by the aid ?f electricity, it is probable that he IS general~y. In the right about the n1uscles of the face. In my op1n1on, Dr. Duchenne has greatly advanced the subject by his treatment of it. No one has more carefully studied the contraction of each separate muscle, and the consequent furro~·s produced ~n the skin. He has also, and this is a very important service, shown which muscles 7 'Handbuch der systematisrhcn Anatomic des Menschen,' Band I., dritte Abtheilung, 1858. |