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＇1＇ by any physical means；that is by any action on the body。 It is the mind which must be affected。 Blushing is not only involuntary； but the wish to restrain it； by leading to self…attention actually increases the tendency。
＇1＇ ‘The Physiology or Mechanism of Blushing；' 1839； p。 156。 I shall have occasion often to quote this work in the present chapter。
The young blush much more freely than the old； but not during infancy；＇2＇ which is remarkable； as we know that infants at a very early age redden from passion。 I have received authentic accounts of two little girls blushing at the ages of between two and three years； and of another sensitive child； a year older； blushing； when reproved for a fault。 Many children； at a somewhat more advanced age blush in a strongly marked manner。 It appears that the mental powers of infants are not as yet sufficiently developed to allow of their blushing。 Hence； also； it is that idiots rarely blush。 Dr。 Crichton Browne observed for me those under his care； but never saw a genuine blush； though he has seen their faces flash； apparently from joy； when food was placed before them； and from anger。 Nevertheless some； if not utterly degraded； are capable of blushing。 A microcephalous idiot； for instance； thirteen years old； whose eyes brightened a little when he was pleased or amused； has been described by Dr。 Behn；＇3＇ as blushing and turning to one side； when undressed for medical examination。
Women blush much more than men。 It is rare to see an old man； but not nearly so rare to see an old woman blushing。 The blind do not escape。 Laura Bridgman； born in this condition； as well as completely deaf； blushes。＇4＇ The Rev。 R。 H。 Blair； Principal of the Worcester College； informs me that three children born blind； out of seven or eight then in the Asylum； are great blushers。 The blind are not at first conscious that they are observed； and it is a most important part of their education； as Mr。 Blair informs me； to impress this knowledge on their minds； and the impression thus gained would greatly strengthen the tendency to blush； by increasing the habit of self…attention。
＇2＇ Dr。 Burgess； ibid。 p。 56。 At p。 33 he also remarks on women blushing more freely than men； as stated below。
＇3＇ Quoted by Vogt； ‘Memoire sur les Microcephales；' 1867； p。 20。 Dr。 Burgess （ibid。 p。 56） doubts whether idiots ever blush。
The tendency to blush is inherited。 Dr。 Burgess gives the case＇5＇ of a family consisting of a father； mother； and ten children； all of whom； without exception； were prone to blush to a most painful degree。 The children were grown up； 〃and some of them were sent to travel in order to wear away this diseased sensibility； but nothing was of the slightest avail。〃 Even peculiarities in blushing seem to be inherited。 Sir James Paget； whilst examining the spine of a girl； was struck at her singular manner of blushing； a big splash of red appeared first on one cheek； and then other splashes； variously scattered over the face and neck。 He subsequently asked the mother whether her daughter always blushed in this peculiar manner； and was answered； 〃Yes； she takes after me。〃 Sir J。 Paget then perceived that by asking this question he had caused the mother to blush； and she exhibited the same peculiarity as her daughter。
In most cases the face； ears and neck are the sole parts which redden； but many persons； whilst blushing intensely； feel that their whole bodies grow hot and tingle； and this shows that the entire surface must be in some manner affected。 Blushes are said sometimes to commence on the forehead； but more commonly on the cheeks； afterwards spreading to the ears and neck。＇6＇ In two Albinos examined by Dr。 Burgess； the blushes commenced by a small circumscribed spot on the cheeks； over the parotidean plexus of nerves； and then increased into a circle； between this blushing circle and the blush on the neck there was an evident line of demarcation； although both arose simultaneously。 The retina； which is naturally red in the Albino； invariably increased at the same time in redness。＇7＇ Every one must have noticed how easily after one blush fresh blushes chase each other over the face。 Blushing is preceded by a peculiar sensation in the skin。 According to Dr。 Burgess the reddening of the skin is generally succeeded by a slight pallor； which shows that the capillary vessels contract after dilating。 In some rare cases paleness instead of redness is caused under conditions which would naturally induce a blush。 For instance； a young lady told me that in a large and crowded party she caught her hair so firmly on the button of a passing servant； that it took some time before she could be extricated； from her sensations she imagined that she had blushed crimson； but was assured by a friend that she had turned extremely pale。
＇4＇ Lieber ‘On the Vocal Sounds；' &c。； Smithsonian Contributions； 1851； vol。 ii。 p。 6。
＇5＇ Ibid。 p。 182。
I was desirous to learn how far down the body blushes extend； and Sir J。 Paget； who necessarily has frequent opportunities for observation； has kindly attended to this point for me during two or three years。 He finds that with women who blush intensely on the face； ears； and nape of neck； the blush does not commonly extend any lower down the body。 It is rare to see it as low down as the collar…bones and shoulder…blades； and he has never himself seen a single instance in which it extended below the upper part of the chest。 He has also noticed that blushes sometimes die away downwards； not gradually and insensibly； but by irregular ruddy blotches。 Dr。 Langstaff has likewise observed for me several women whose bodies did not in the least redden while their faces were crimsoned with blushes。 With。 the insane； some of whom appear to be particularly liable to blushing； Dr。 J。 Crichton Browne has several times seen the blush extend as far down as the collar…bones； and in two instances to the breasts。 He gives me the case of a married woman； aged twenty…seven； who suffered from epilepsy。 On the morning after her arrival in the Asylum； Dr。 Browne； together with his assistants； visited her whilst she was in bed。 The moment that he approached； she blushed deeply over her cheeks and temples； and the blush spread quickly to her ears。 She was much agitated and tremulous。 He unfastened the collar of her chemise in order to examine the state of her lungs； and then a brilliant blush rushed over her chest； in an arched line over the upper third of each breast； and extended downwards between the breasts nearly to the ensiform cartilage of the sternum。 This case is interesting； as the blush did not thus extend downwards until it became intense by her attention being drawn to this part of her person。 As the examination proceeded she became composed； and the blush disappeared； but on several subsequent occasions the same phenomena were observed。
＇6＇ Moreau； in edit。 of 1820 of Lavater； vol。 iv。 p。 303。
＇7＇ Burgess。 ibid。 p。 38； on paleness after blushing； p。 177。
The foregoing facts show that； as a general rule； with English women； blushing does not extend beneath the neck and upper part of the chest。 Nevertheless Sir J。 Paget inform