[22] He admits, however, that its contraction
is quite inexpressive unless associated with widely open eyes and mouth.
He has given a photograph (copied and reduced in the accompanying woodcut)
of the same old man as on former occasions, with his eyebrows strongly raised,
his mouth opened, and the platysma contracted, all by means of galvanism.
The original photograph was shown to twenty-four persons, and they were
separately asked, without any explanation being given, what expression
was intended: twenty instantly answered, "intense fright" or "horror;"
three said pain, and one extreme discomfort. Dr. Duchenne has given
another photograph of the same old man, with the platysma contracted,
the eyes and mouth opened, and the eyebrows rendered oblique,
by means of galvanism. The expression thus induced is very striking
(see Plate VII. fig. 2); the obliquity of the eyebrows adding the appearance
of great mental distress. The original was shown to fifteen persons;
twelve answered terror or horror, and three agony or great suffering.
From these cases, and from an examination of the other photographs given
by Dr. Duchenne, together with his remarks thereon, I think there can
be little doubt that the contraction of the platysma does add greatly
to the expression of fear.
Pages:
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439