sons of great sensibility, who are delicately susceptible of honour or disgrace, are apt to blush at every trifle, without violent paroxysms either of fear or of terror. In these cases, where the effects of Shame are the least complicated, though they be strong, they are momentary. The heart is certainly agitated, sometimes with pleasure, sometimes with pain; but as the suffusion chiefly manifests itself in the face, and in the smaller vessels spread over the neck and breast, the singular effects of Shame cannot be attributed, solely, to the sudden impetus given to the heart. The Passion itself seems to have an influence principally local; which we know to be the case with some other stimulants. The modest blush, unmixed with guilt or fear, seems to be inert, respecting medical effects. Nor are there any instances of its having been decidedly beneficial or injurious. It seems most calculated to increase cutaneous inflammations; but facts are wanting to confirm this idea.

Attention of Mind.

Habitual attention of mind, to any particular object, should it be of a pleasing nature, and proceed from a passionate fondness for that object, has proved pernicious to the constitution.

The fatigue of the brain has indicated itself by cephalalgias, giddiness, &c.—the animal spirits have been exhausted; the body has been rendered insensible to its accustomed stimuli; weariness and universal lassitude, prostration of strength, loss of appetite, indigestion, flatulencies, &c. have ensued; and the whole system has been rendered very susceptible of various morbid impressions. Yet salutary effects have issued from an eager attention to things novel, interesting, and mysterious. It has thus proved efficacious in diseases subjected to periodical returns. It has prevented hysteric and epileptic fits, and charmed away agues. By connecting the pernicious effects of habitual attention to the same object, with those accompanying fear, anxiety, sorrow, it is easy to perceive that the union of these must be peculiarly pernicious; that when the whole attention is employed upon things mournful, irritating, or calculated to inspire painful apprehensions,-when it is absorbed by corroding cares and anxious fears,-when it is the prey of chagrin and disappointment, the body may be expected to fall a speedy victim to the combined influence of such deadly poisons.

Imagination.

The power of Imagination in inducing and

removing diseases, has been generally acknowdged. But this imagination could only produce its effects by the strong Affections which accompany it; otherwise it would be as inert as the most abstract idea. These affections are indicated in the various passions and emotions we have been contemplating. It is, moreover, worthy of notice, that in every powerful exertion of the Imagination, some change takes place in the body correspondent with its nature.

In

a keen appetite, upon the thoughts of some favourite viand, the salivary glands are stimulated to a secretion of saliva, as preparatory to deglutition. We feel ourselves collected, firm, elevated, upon the lively representation of the firm, heroic, dignified conduct of another. The blood thrills in our veins, and the skin corrugates, at the description of any thing peculiarly horrible; and under the strong impression of fictitious danger, the attitude of our bodies attempts to evade it! Full confidence in the mystic power of another, places the whole system in a situation most favourable to the effects, which the object of his confidence undertakes to produce. This will explain much of what is genuine, in the pretensions of magnetizers; and the exaggerating dispositions of both operator

and patient, will contribute to explain the rest. (See Note U.)

The above sketch, concise and imperfect as it is, will be sufficient to evince, that the Passions and Emotions have a medical influence upon the body and that each of them has its own characteristic influence, in its general mode of acting, although various and opposite effects may sometimes be produced by incidental circumstances. This, however, is precisely the case with the most esteemed medicaments;→ with every thing which is deemed noxious or beneficial in the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms; and with every part of nature, which possesses the power of acting upon the human frame.

In this investigation the Author has simply endeavoured to be the historian of facts, without intending to pay any deference to theory. But as medical language has chiefly been formed by different theories, which have most rapidly succeeded to each other, it is difficult to use terms which do not acknowledge some system or other for their parent; or to express ideas, without seeming to have a predilection for one hypothesis in preference to others, where the sole object is to establish indisputable facts. (See Note W.)

SECTION II.

Influence of the Passions on Thoughts and
Language.

Ir has been remarked in our Analysis, that whenever any subject presents itself to the mind, with sufficient force to excite a passion, or a very strong affection, all the powers of the ima gination become immediately active. The whole soul is engaged upon its object, and the whole train of ideas is turned into a channel correspondent with the view we entertain of that. The mind, with wonderful facility, collects together whatever has been laid up in the storehouse of the memory, or can be combined by the force of the imagination. Every thing alien is totally excluded; and it is in vain that others who are free from the impulse, attempt to suggest ideas of a contrary tendency. Reason becomes impotent, nor can the attention be directed from such circumstances as are intimately connected with the exciting cause; and these are magnified and aggravated to the utmost extent. Subjects of joy appear, at the instant,