Signs in this region might refer to either of these, for the reason
that, although a sufficient intake of air is one of the necessary
conditions of proper oxygenation, a free and abundant circulation of the
blood through the air-cells is equally essential. In fact, that common
phenomenon known as "shortness of breath" is more frequently due to
disturbances of the heart and circulation than it is to the lungs,
especially in patients who are able to be up and about. If, in addition
to the danger signal of the rise and fall of the nostrils with each
breath, we have a pale, translucent skin, with a light, hectic flush
showing just below the knife-like lower edge of the cheekbone, a widely
open, shining eye, and a clustering abundance of hair of a glossiness
bordering on dampness, red lips slightly parted, showing the teeth
between, a painfully strong suspicion of consumption would arise
unbidden.
This pathetic type of face has that fatal gift which the French
clinicians, with their usual happiness of phrase, term _La beaute du
diable_. The eager eyes, dilated nostrils, parted lips, give that weird
air of exaltation which, when it occurs, as it occasionally does in the
dying, is interpreted as the result of glimpses into a spirit world.
When to this is added the mild delirium of fever, when memories of
happier days and of those who have passed before rise unbidden and
babble themselves from the tongue, one can hardly wonder at this
interpretation.
The last group of lines to be noted is that about the eyes and
forehead. These are less reliable than either of the other two, for the
reason that they are so sympathetic as almost invariably to be present
in addition, whenever the lower dial-plates of the face are disturbed.
It is only when they appear alone that they are significant; then they
may be interpreted as one of three things: first, and commonest, eye
strain; second, disease in some part of the nervous system or muscular
system, not connected with the organs of the chest or abdomen; and
third, mental disturbances.
This last relation, of course, makes them in many respects the least
reliable of all the face indices, because--as is household
knowledge--they indicate mental conditions and operations, as well as
bodily. "The wrinkled brow of thought," the "deep lines of perplexity,"
etc., are in the vocabulary of the grammar grades. They are, however, a
valuable check upon the other two groups. They are not apt to be present
in consumption and in other forms of serious disease, attended by fever,
on account of the curious effect produced by the toxins of the disease,
which is often not only stimulating, but even of an exhilarating nature,
or will produce a slight stupor or lethargy, such as is typical of
typhoid.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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