When the attention is concentrated for a length of time with fixed
earnestness on any object or subject, all the organs of the body
are forgotten and neglected;[8] and as the nervous energy
of each individual is limited in amount, little is transmitted
to any part of the system, excepting that which is at the time
brought into energetic action. Therefore many of the muscles
tend to become relaxed, and the jaw drops from its own weight.
This will account for the dropping of the jaw and open mouth of a man
stupefied with amazement, and perhaps when less strongly affected.
I have noticed this appearance, as I find recorded in my notes,
in very young children when they were only moderately surprised.
[7] `De la Physionomie,' 1865, p. 234.
[8] See, on this subject, Gratiolet, ibid. p. 254.
There is still another and highly effective cause, leading to the mouth
being opened, when we are astonished, and more especially when we
are suddenly startled. We can draw a full and deep inspiration much
more easily through the widely open mouth than through the nostrils.
Now when we start at any sudden sound or sight, almost all the muscles
of the body are involuntarily and momentarily thrown into strong action,
for the sake of guarding ourselves against or jumping away from
the danger, which we habitually associate with anything unexpected.
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