RECORD: Darwin, C. R. n.d. Abstract of Gratiolet, De la Physionomie. CUL-DAR195.4.67. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 6.2022. RN1
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.
[67]
Gratiolet p. 324 Scratching Head ─
The head with vulgar people itch is one of the commonest slightly unpleasant sensation, & if a man of this is a little puzzled he scratches his head ─ so he gives an embarrassed complex if a little troubled, as if there was something slightly irritating his wind-pipe.
[Expression, p. 32: "A vulgar man often scratches his head when perplexed in mind; and I believe that he acts thus from habit, as if he experienced a slightly uncomfortable bodily sensation, namely, the itching of his head, to which he is particularly liable, and which he thus relieves. Another man rubs his eyes when perplexed, or gives a little cough when embarrassed, acting in either case as if he felt a slightly uncomfortable sensation in his eyes or windpipe.6
6 Gratiolet ('De la Physionomie,' p. 324), in his discussion on this subject, gives many analogous instances."]
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 25 September, 2022