The nature of the disease and the mode of death exert a marked influence on the expression of face of the dying, and this is often retained by the features after death. In some we observe the impress of the previous suffering, as in peritonitis and in cases of poisoning by irritants; in others the character is derived from a peculiar affection of some part of the respiratory apparatus; or from an affection of the facial muscles themselves, as in tetanus and paralysis. But the condition of the mind is perhaps more often concerned in the expression than even the physical circumstances of the body. For, as some kind of intelligence is frequently retained, and strong emotions are experienced till within a few moments of dissolution, the features may be sealed by the hand of death in the last look of rapture or of misery, of benignity or of anger. Every poetical reader knows the picture of the traits of death (no less true than beautiful) drawn by the author of “The Giaour.” But such observations are not confined to poets. Haller could trace in the dying countenance the smile which had been lighted by the hope of a happier existence. “Adfulgentis fugienti animæ spei non raro in moribundis signa vidi, qui serenissimo vultu non sine blando subrisu, de vita excesserunt.”[41] FOOTNOTES: [1] “At nostris temporibus, Medici quasi religio est, ægrotis, postquam deplorati sint, assidere; ubi meo judicio, si officio suo, atque adeo humanitati ipsi deesse nolint, et artem ediscere et diligentiam præstare deberent, qua animam agentes facilius et mitius e vita demigrent--Hanc autem partem, inquisitionem de _Euthanasia_ exteriori (ad differentiam ejus euthanasiæ quæ animæ præparationem respicit) appellamus; eamque inter desiderata reponimus.” (Verulamus, De Augmentis Scientiarum, lib. iv. cap. ij.) [2] “Εὐθανασία naturalis nobis dicitur facilis et quam minimo cum cruciatu e vita exitus, qua tenus moriendi facilitas e causis naturalibus proxime pendet.... Ad medicinam hujus εὐθανασίας contemplatio pertinet: est enim naturalis, non moralis, nisi qua tenus hæc ad illam momenti habet plurimum. Exteriorem idcirco Verulamius appellavit.” (Nicolai Paradysii, Opuscula Academica, 8vo, Lugd. Batav, 1813. Oratio de Εὐθανασία naturali et quid ad eam conciliandam Medicina valeat, pp. 63 et 65.) [3] “A medicis vix inchoatum, nedum pertractatum huc usque esset.” (Paradysius, p. 63.) [4] “Etiam plane censeo ad officium medici pertinere, non tantum ut sanitatem restituat: verum etiam ut dolores et cruciatus morborum mitiget: neque id ipsum solummodo, cum illa mitigatio doloris, veluti symptomatis periculosi, ad convalescentiam faciat et conducat: imo vero cum abjecta prorsus omni sanitatis spe, excessum tantum præbeat e vita magis lenem et placidum. Siquidem non parva est felicitatis pars, illa Euthanasia.” (De Augmentis Scientiarum.)