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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

"The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals"


In both cases the eyes and mouth are widely opened, and the eyebrows raised.
The frightened man at first stands like a statue motionless and breathless,
or crouches down as if instinctively to escape observation.

[14] `North American Indians,' 3rd edit. 1842, vol. i. p. 105.
[15] H. Wedgwood, Dict. of English Etymology, vol. ii. 1862, p.
35. See, also, Gratiolet (`De la Physionomie,' p. 135) on the sources
of such words as `terror, horror, rigidus, frigidus,' &c.
The heart beats quickly and violently, so that it palpitates
or knocks against the ribs; but it is very doubtful whether it
then works more efficiently than usual, so as to send a greater
supply of blood to all parts of the body; for the skin instantly
becomes pale, as during incipient faintness. This paleness of
the surface, however, is probably in large part, or exclusively,
due to the vasomotor centre being affected in such a manner
as to cause the contraction of the small arteries of the skin.
That the skin is much affected under the sense of great fear,
we see in the marvellous and inexplicable manner in which
perspiration immediately exudes from it.


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