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awn inspiration； so that it is very doubtful whether the contraction depended at all on the emotion of fear。 In a fifth case； the patient； who was not chloroformed； was much terrified； and his platysma was more forcibly and persistently contracted than in the other cases。 But even here there is room for doubt； for the muscle which appeared to be unusually developed； was seen by Dr。 Ogle to contract as the man moved his head from the pillow； after the operation was over。
As I felt much perplexed why； in any case； a superficial muscle on the neck should be especially affected by fear； I applied to my many obliging correspondents for information about the contraction of this muscle under other circumstances。 It would be superfluous to give all the answers which I have received。 They show that this muscle acts； often in a variable manner and degree； under many different conditions。 It is violently contracted in hydrophobia； and in a somewhat less degree in lockjaw； sometimes in a marked manner during the insensibility from chloroform。 Dr。 W。 Ogle observed two male patients； suffering from such difficulty in breathing； that the trachea had to be opened； and in both the platysma was strongly contracted。 One of these men overheard the conversation of the surgeons surrounding him； and when he was able to speak； declared that he had not been frightened。 In some other cases of extreme difficulty of respiration； though not requiring tracheotomy； observed by Drs。 Ogle and Langstaff； the platysma was not contracted。
Mr。 J。 Wood； who has studied with such care the muscles of the human body； as shown by his various publications； has often seen the platysma contracted in vomiting； nausea； and disgust； also in children and adults under the influence of rage；for instance； in Irishwomen； quarrelling and brawling together with angry gesticulations。 This may possibly have been due to their high and angry tones； for I know a lady； an excellent musician； who； in singing certain high notes； always contracts her platysma。 So does a young man； as I have observed； in sounding certain notes on the flute。 Mr。 J。 Wood informs me that he has found the platysma best developed in persons with thick necks and broad shoulders； and that in families inheriting these peculiarities； its development is usually associated with much voluntary power over the homologous occipito…frontalis muscle； by which the scalp can be moved。
None of the foregoing cases appear to throw any light on the contraction of the platysma from fear； but it is different； I think； with the following cases。 The gentleman before referred to； who can voluntarily act on this muscle only on one side of his neck； is positive that it contracts on both sides whenever he is startled。 Evidence has already been given showing that this muscle sometimes contracts； perhaps for the sake of opening the mouth widely； when the breathing is rendered difficult by disease； and during the deep inspirations of crying…fits before an operation。 Now； whenever a person starts at any sudden sight or sound； he instantaneously draws a deep breath； and thus the contraction of the platysma may possibly have become associated with the sense of fear。 But there is； I believe； a more efficient relation。 The first sensation of fear； or the imagination of something dreadful； commonly excites a shudder。 I have caught myself giving a little involuntary shudder at a painful thought； and I distinctly perceived that my platysma contracted； so it does if I simulate a shudder。 I have asked others to act in this manner； and in some the muscle contracted； but not in others。 One of my sons； whilst getting out of bed； shuddered from the cold； and； as he happened to have his hand on his neck； he plainly felt that this muscle strongly contracted。 He then voluntarily shuddered； as he had done on former occasions； but the platysma was not then affected。 Mr。 J。 Wood has also several times observed this muscle contracting in patients； when stripped for examination； and who were not frightened； but shivered slightly from the cold。 Unfortunately I have not been able to ascertain whether； when the whole body shakes； as in the cold stage of an ague fit； the platysma contracts。 But as it certainly often contracts during a shudder； and as a shudder or shiver often accompanies the first sensation of fear； we have； I think； a clue to its action in this latter case。＇23＇ Its contraction； however； is not an invariable concomitant of fear； for it probably never acts under the influence of extreme； prostrating terror。
＇23＇ Ducheinne takes； in fact； this view （ibid。 p。 45）； as he attributes the contraction of the platysma to the shivering of fear （_frisson de la peur_）； but he elsewhere compares the action with that which causes the hair of frightened quadrupeds to stand erect； and this can hardly be considered as quite correct。
_Dilatation of the Pupils_。Gratiolet repeatedly insists＇24＇ that the pupils are enormously dilated whenever terror is felt。 I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of this statement； but have failed to obtain confirmatory evidence； excepting in the one instance before given of an insane woman suffering from great fear。 When writers of fiction speak of the eyes being widely dilated； I presume that they refer to the eyelids。 Munro's statement；〃 that with parrots the iris is affected by the passions； independently of the amount of light； seems to bear on this question； but Professor Donders informs me； that he has often seen movements in the pupils of these birds which he thinks may be related to their power of accommodation to distance； in nearly the same manner as our own pupils contract when our eyes converge for near vision。 Gratiolet remarks that the dilated pupils appear as if they were gazing into profound darkness。 No doubt the fears of man have often been excited in the dark； but hardly so often or so exclusively； as to account for a fixed and associated habit having thus arisen。 It seems more probable； assuming that Gratiolet's statement is correct； that the brain is directly affected by the powerful emotion of fear and reacts on the pupils； but Professor Donders informs me that this is an extremely complicated subject。 I may add； as possibly throwing light on the subject； that Dr。 Fyffe； of Netley Hospital； has observed in two patients that the pupils were distinctly dilated during the cold stage of an ague fit。 Professor Donders has also often seen dilatation of the pupils in incipient faintness。
＇24＇ ‘De la Physionomie；' pp。 51； 256； 346。
＇25＇ As quoted in White's ‘Gradation in Man；' p。 57。
_Horror_。The state of mind expressed by this term implies terror； and is in some； cases almost synonymous with it。 Many a man must have felt； before the blessed discovery of chloroform； great horror at the thought of an impending surgical operation。 He who dreads； as well as hates a man； will feel； as Milton uses the word； a horror of him。 We feel horror if we see any one； for instance a child； exposed to some instant and crushing danger。 Almost every one would experience the same feeling in the highest degree in witnessing a man being tortured or going to be tortured。 In these cases there is no dan