s fricata.
The coldness and dryness of the atmosphere, compared with the warmth and
moisture, which the new-born infant had just before experienced,
disagreeably affects the aperture of this lacrymal sack: the tears, that
are contained in this sack, are poured into the nostrils, and a further
supply is secreted by the lacrymal glands, and diffused upon the eye-balls;
as is very visible in the eyes and nostrils of children soon after their
nativity. The same happens to us at our maturer age, for in severe frosty
weather, snivelling and tears are produced by the coldness and dryness of
the air.
But the lacrymal glands, which separate the tears from the blood, are
situated on the upper external part of the globes of each eye; and, when a
greater quantity of tears are wanted, we contract the forehead, and bring
down the eye-brows, and use many other distortions of the face, to compress
these glands.
Now as the suffocating sensation, that produces respiration, is removed
almost as soon as perceived, and does not recur again: this disagreeable
irritation of the lacrymal ducts, as it must frequently recur, till the
tender organ becomes used to variety of odours, is one of the first pains
that is repeatedly attended to: and hence throughout our infancy, and in
many people throughout their lives, all disagreeable sensations are
attended with snivelling at the nose, a profusion of tears, and some
peculiar distortions of countenance: according to the laws of early
association before mentioned, which constitutes the natural or universal
language of grief.
You may assure yourself of the truth of this observation, if you will
attend to what passes, when you read a distressful tale alone; before the
tears overflow your eyes, you will invariably feel a titillation at that
extremity of the lacrymal duct, which terminates in the nostril, then the
compression of the eyes succeeds, and the profusion of tears.
Linnaeus asserts, that the female bear sheds tears in grief; the same has
been said of the hind, and some other animals.
3. _Of Tender Pleasure._
The first most lively impression of pleasure, that the infant enjoys after
its nativity, is excited by the odour of its mother's milk. The organ of
smell is irritated by this perfume, and the lacrymal sack empties itself
into the nostrils, as before explained, and an increase of tears is poured
into the eyes. Any one may observe this, when very young infants are about
to suck;
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