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ars are freely shed。 Hence； as formerly remarked； it is scarcely possible to point out any difference between the tear…stained face of a person after a paroxysm of excessive laughter and after a bitter crying…fit。＇15＇ It is probably due to the close similarity of the spasmodic movements caused by these widely different emotions that hysteric patients alternately cry and laugh with violence； and that young children sometimes pass suddenly from the one to the other state。 Mr。 Swinhoe informs me that he has often seen the Chinese； when suffering from deep grief； burst out into hysterical fits of laughter。
＇15＇ Sir T。 Reynolds remarks （‘Discourses；' xii。 p。 100）； it is curious to observe； and it is certainly true； that the extremes of contrary passions are； with very little variation； expressed by the same action。〃 He gives as an instance the frantic joy of a Bacchante and the grief of a Mary Magdalen。
I was anxious to know whether tears are freely shed during excessive laughter by most of the races of men； and I hear from my correspondents that this is the case。 One instance was observed with the Hindoos； and they themselves said that it often occurred。 So it is with the Chinese。 The women of a wild tribe of Malays in the Malacca peninsula； sometimes shed tears when they laugh heartily； though this seldom occurs。 With the Dyaks of Borneo it must frequently be the case； at least with the women； for I hear from the Rajah C。 Brooke that it is a common expression with them to say 〃we nearly made tears from laughter。〃 The aborigines of Australia express their emotions freely； and they are described by my correspondents as jumping about and clapping their hands for joy； and as often roaring with laughter。 No less than four observers have seen their eyes freely watering on such occasions； and in one instance the tears rolled down their cheeks。 Mr。 Bulmer； a missionary in a remote part of Victoria； remarks； 〃that they have a keen sense of the ridiculous； they are excellent mimics； and when one of them is able to imitate the peculiarities of some absent member of the tribe； it is very common to hear all in the camp convulsed with laughter。〃 With Europeans hardly anything excites laughter so easily as mimicry； and it is rather curious to find the same fact with the savages of Australia； who constitute one of the most distinct races in the world。
In Southern Africa with two tribes of Kafirs； especially with the women； their eyes often fill with tears during laughter。 Gaika； the brother of the chief Sandilli； answers my query on this bead； with the words； 〃Yes； that is their common practice。〃 Sir Andrew Smith has seen the painted face of a Hottentot woman all furrowed with tears after a fit of laughter。 In Northern Africa； with the Abyssinians； tears are secreted under the same circumstances。 Lastly； in North America； the same fact has been observed in a remarkably savage and isolated tribe； but chiefly with the women； in another tribe it was observed only on a single occasion。
Excessive laughter； as before remarked； graduates into moderate laughter。 In this latter case the muscles round the eyes are much less contracted； and there is little or no frowning。 Between a gentle laugh and a broad smile there is hardly any difference； excepting that in smiling no reiterated sound is uttered； though a single rather strong expiration； or slight noise a rudiment of a laughmay often be heard at the commencement of a smile。 On a moderately smiling countenance the contraction of the upper orbicular muscles can still just be traced by a slight lowering of the eyebrows。 The contraction of the lower orbicular and palpebral muscles is much plainer； and is shown by the wrinkling of the lower eyelids and of the skin beneath them； together with a slight drawing up of the upper lip。 From the broadest smile we pass by the finest steps into the gentlest one。 In this latter case the features are moved in a much less degree； and much more slowly； and the mouth is kept closed。 The curvature of the naso…labial furrow is also slightly different in the two cases。 We thus see that no abrupt line of demarcation can be drawn between the movement of the features during the most violent laughter and a very faint smile。＇16＇
A smile； therefore； may be said to be the first stage in the development of a laugh。 But a different and more probable view may be suggested； namely； that the habit of uttering load reiterated sounds from a sense of pleasure； first led to the retraction of the corners of the mouth and of the upper lip； and to the contraction of the orbicular muscles； and that now； through association and long…continued habit； the same muscles are brought into slight play whenever any cause excites in us a feeling which； if stronger； would have led to laughter； and the result is a smile。
＇16＇ Dr。 Piderit has come to the same conclusion； ibid。 s。 99。
Whether we look at laughter as the full development of a smile； or； as is more probable； at a gentle smile as the last trace of a habit； firmly fixed during many generations； of laughing whenever we are joyful； we can follow in our infants the gradual passage of the one into the other。 It is well known to those who have the charge of young infants； that it is difficult to feel sure when certain movements about their mouths are really expressive； that is； when they really smile。 Hence I carefully watched my own infants。 One of them at the age of forty…five days； and being at the time in a happy frame of mind； smiled； that is； the corners of the mouth were retracted； and simultaneously the eyes became decidedly bright。 I observed the same thing on the following day； but on the third day the child was not quite well and there was no trace of a smile； and this renders it probable that the previous smiles were real。 Eight days subsequently and during the next succeeding week； it was remarkable how his eyes brightened whenever he smiled； and his nose became at the same time transversely wrinkled。 This was now accompanied by a little bleating noise； which perhaps represented a laugh。 At the age of 113 days these little noises； which were always made during expiration； assumed a slightly different character； and were more broken or interrupted； as in sobbing； and this was certainly incipient laughter。 The change in tone seemed to me at the time to be connected with the greater lateral extension of the mouth as the smiles became broader。
In a second infant the first real smile was observed at about the same age； viz。 forty…five days； and in a third； at a somewhat earlier age。 The second infant； when sixty…five days old； smiled much more broadly and plainly than did the one first mentioned at the same age； and even at this early age uttered noises very like laughter。 In this gradual acquirement； by infants； of the habit of laughing； we have a case in some degree analogous to that of weeping。 As practice is requisite with the ordinary movements of the body； such as walking； so it seems to be with laughing and weeping。 The art of screaming； on the other hand； from being of service to infants； has become finely developed from the earliest days。
_High spirits； cheerfulness_。A man in high spirits；