that must flow somewhere or
explode.

The ruddy live-wire, recognized everywhere as bubbling with vitality,
the life of any group, the magnetic personality may, however, be
shocked by some seismic event like the death of a father or mother,
or the ruin of some cherished ambition. A break in the balance of the
other glands follows quickly and disablement and invalidism, which may
cure itself after some years, remain stationary, or descend to the
worst forms of thyroid deficiency.

During maturity, the type are characterized usually by a lean body,
or tendency rapidly to become thin under stress. They have clean cut
features and thick hair, often wavy or curly, thick long eyebrows,
large, frank, brilliant, keen eyes, regular and well developed teeth
and mouth. Sexually they are well differentiated and susceptible.
Noticeable emotivity, a rapidity of perception and volition,
impulsiveness, and a tendency to explosive crises of expression are
the distinctive psychic traits. A restless, inexhaustible energy makes
them perpetual doers and workers, who get up early in the morning,
flit about all day, retire late, and frequently suffer from insomnia,
planning in bed what they are to do next day.

Certain types of thyroid excess associated with the thymus dominant
next to be described are peculiarly susceptible to emotional
instability. They are subject to brain storms, outbreaks of furious
rage, sometimes associated with a state of semi-consciousness. To
emphasize the analogy to epilepsy, their attacks have been called
psycholepsy. Among the Italians especially they were watched and
reported during the War, when the explosive fits were seen to take the
form of irresponsible acts of insubordination or violence.

THE THYMO-CENTRIC PERSONALITIES

During the first period of childhood, up to five, six or seven, or
more accurately, up to the point at which the permanent teeth begin
to appear, every child may be said to be a thymus-dominated organism,
because the thymus, holding the other endocrines in check, controls
its life. That is why up to the third and fourth years at any rate,
most children seem alike. Closer observation, however, reveals points
of differentiation and signs of the coming potencies of the other
hormones. During the second period, up to puberty, these marks of the
deeper underlying forces of the personality make themselves more
and more felt. The thymus, like a brake that is becoming worn out,
continues t