RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Bell, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. CUL-DAR195.2.31. Edited by John van Wyhe (The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 5.2022, 9.2025. RN3
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR195 contains materials for Darwin's book Expression of the emotions (1872) organised roughly as: DAR195.1 blushing. DAR195.2 astonishment, fear. DAR195.3 indignation, rage, screaming, etc. DAR195.4 laughter, frowning, introduction.
[31]
[in margin:] Write this
Phil. Transact 1822. p. 306 Sir C. Bell says in laughing breath quietly in, & spasmodically expelled — in crying almost never as spasmodically drawn in — pinch a person he draws in breath — in pleasure? by [relations] — risus sardonicus) but smile comes before laugh with expulsive breath — it is evident that tears quite secondary — When one is uncomfortable & breathing languid with a tendency to grunt
(Laughter)
p. 308 grand description of terror-struck face — he makes all these expressions simply reflex for mind [assisting] the powers of the frame
Baby crying appears very little [convulsion] — long & screams & squells with sometimes sob-like [illeg], quick impulse
Bell, Charles. 1822. Of the nerves which associate the muscles of the chest, in the actions of breathing, speaking, and expression. Being a continuation of the paper on the structure and functions of the nerves. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 112: 284-312.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 11 September, 2025