3

Chap. IX 392

=ance assumed a becomes pallid or livid pallor ;* (4) and not a few men with heart-disease have dropped down dead under this powerful emotion.

The respiration is likewise always affected. The chest heaves, and the dilated nostrils quiver.*(5) As Tennyson writes, "sharp breath of anger puffed her fairy nostrils out." Hence we have such expressions as 'breathing out vengeance' and 'fuming with anger'.*(6)

The whole muscular system is affected, and at the same time energy to the will. The body is commonly held erect ready for instant action, with the limbs rigid; or but in some cases the body may be is protruded, as we shall presently see, towards the offending person. The mouth is generally closed with firmly ness, showing a fixed determination; & with the teeth all clenched, or they may be ground together. Such gestures, as the arm raising of the arms with the fists clenched are common, as if to strike the an offender. Few men in a great passion and telling some one to go away begone, can resist acting as if they intended to strike or push him the man violently away. The desire indeed to strike something often becomes so intolerably strong, that inanimate

[Expression, pp. 240-1: "On the other hand, the action of the heart is sometimes so much impeded by great rage, that the countenance becomes pallid or livid,4 and not a few men with heart-disease have dropped down dead under this powerful emotion.
The respiration is likewise affected; the chest heaves, and the dilated nostrils quiver.5 As Tennyson writes, "sharp breaths of anger puffed her fairy nostrils out."
4 Moreau and Gratiolet have discussed the colour of the face under the influence of intense passion: see the edit. of 1820 of Lavater, vol. iv. pp. 282 and 300; and Gratiolet, 'De la Physionomie,' p. 345.
5 Sir C. Bell ('Anatomy of Expression,' pp. 91, 107) has fully discussed this subject. Moreau remarks (in the edit. of 1820 of 'La Physionomie,' par G. Lavater, vol. iv. p. 237), and quotes Portal in
Hence we have such expressions as breathing out vengeance," and "fuming with anger."6
The excited brain gives strength to the muscles, and at the same time energy to the will. The body is commonly held erect ready for instant action, but sometimes it is bent forward towards the offending person, with the limbs more or less rigid. The mouth is generally closed with firmness, showing fixed determination, and the teeth are clenched or ground together. Such gestures as the raising of the arms, with the fists clenched, as if to strike the offender, are common. Few men in a great passion, and telling some one to begone, can resist acting as if they intended to strike or push the man violently away. The desire, indeed, to strike often becomes so intolerably strong, that inanimate objects are struck or dashed to the ground; but the gestures frequently become altogether purposeless or frantic. Young children, when in a violent rage roll on the ground on their backs or bellies, screaming, kicking, scratching, or biting everything within reach.
6 Mr. Wedgwood, 'On the Origin of Language,' 1866, p. 76. He also observes that the sound of hard breathing "is represented by the syllables puff, huff, whiff, whence a huff is a fit of ill-temper.""]