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Show 284: ASTONI~Hl\1EN'l\ CHAP. Xll. and as the nervous energy of each individual is limited in amount, little is transn1itted to any part of _the ~ystenJ, excepting that which is at the time brought Into energetic action. Therefore many of the muscl~s tend to becon1e relaxed, and the jaw drops from 1ts own weight. This will account for the dropping of the jaw and open mouth of a man stupefied with an1azement, and perhaps when less strongly affe~ted. I have ~oticed this appearance, as I find recorded In n1y notes, In very young children when they were only 1noderately sur-prised. . . ~,here is still another and highly effeet1ve cause, leading to the mouth being opened, when we ai·e astonished, and more especially when we are suddenly startled. vV e can draw a full and deep inspiration much 1nore easily through the widely open mouth than through the nostrils. Now when we start at any sudden sound or sight, aln1ost all the muscles of tho body are involuntarily and mom~ntari]y thrown ~nto strong action, for the sake of guarding ourselves against or jumping away from the danger, which we habitually associate with anything unexpected. But we always unconsciously prepare ourselves for any great exertioll, as formerly explained, by first taking a deep and full inspiration, and '\Ve consequently open our 1nouths. If no exertion follows, and we still remain astonished, we cease for a time to breathe, or breathe as quietly as possible, in order that every sound may be distinctly hear.d. Or again, if our attention continues long and earnestly absorbed, all our n1uscles become relaxed, a~d the jaw, which was at first suddenly opened, remmns dropped. rrhus several causes concur towards this same n1oven1ent, whenever surprise, astonishment, or an1azcmen t is felt. Although when thus affected, our 1nouths are gene· ( 'fi :\P. XII . ASTONISHMENT. 2 5 rally prn (1, yet tho Hps are often a littl protrncl <i. ~l_lhi , f~1. ·t r 1nind. 1u~ of tho smno mov 1n nt thonn·h . ' b 1u a n1uch 1nor strongly n1arkocl degree, in tho hiln-p~ nz~e and orang wh n a tonish cl. A.s a strong o~ ·piratwn naturally £ 1lows the deep in piration which accompanies the fir t sense of startled surprise, and as tho lip are often protruded, tho various sounds which are then con11nonly uttered ean apparently be accounto<l for. But sometimes a strong expiration alone is heard; thus Laura ~ridgman, when amazed, rounds and protrudes her l1p , opens thorn, and breathes strongly.9 One of the common st sounds is a deep Oh; and this: wonlcl naturally follow, as explained by Ilelmholtz, from the mouth being mod rat ly opened and the lips protruded. On a quiet night some ruckets were fired fro1n the 'Beagle,' in a little ereek at Tahiti, to amuse the natives; and as each rocket was let off there was absolute silence, but this was invariably followed by a deep ¥roaning Oh, resounding all round the bay. Mr. 'iV ash1ngton Matthews says that tho North American Indians express astonishment Ly a groan; and tho negroes on the West Coast of Africa, accordinO' to l\fr. vVinwood Reade, protrude their lips, and ~ako a sound like heigh, heigh. If the mouth is not Jnuch open~d, wl~il~t the lips are considerably protruded, a blowing, lu s1ng, or whjstling noise is produced. Mr. I~. Brough Smyth informs me that an Australian fr01n the interior was taken to the theatre to see an acrobat rapidly turning head over heels: "be was greatly :: as.tonis?ed, and pr.otruded his lips, Inaking a noiso \Vlth his mouth as If blowing out a match.'' According to Mr. Bulmer the Australians, when surprised, utter 9 Lieber, ' On the Vocal Sounds of Laura BridQ'llJan ' Smithsonian Contributions, 1851, vol. ii. p. 7. 0 ' |
