Therefore, to raise the arms suddenly,
either the whole arms or the fore-arms, to open the palms flat,
and to separate the fingers,--or, again, to straighten the arms,
extending them backwards with separated fingers,--are movements in complete
antithesis to those preserved under an indifferent frame of mind,
and they are, in consequence, unconsciously assumed by an astonished man.
There is, also, often a desire to display surprise in a conspicuous
manner, and the above attitudes are well fitted for this purpose.
It may be asked why should surprise, and only a few other states
of the mind, be exhibited by movements in antithesis to others.
But this principle will not be brought into play in the case
of those emotions, such as terror, great joy, suffering, or rage,
which naturally lead to certain lines of action and produce certain
effects on the body, for the whole system is thus preoccupied;
and these emotions are already thus expressed with the greatest plainness.
[11] Lieber, `On the Vocal Sounds,' &c., ibid. p. 7.
[12] Huschke, `Mimices et Physiognomices,' 1821, p. 18. Gratiolet (De
la Phys. p. 255) gives a figure of a man in this attitude, which,
however, seems to me expressive of fear combined with astonishment.
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