erflows into the visceral nervous system, increasing the action of the
heart, and probably facilitating digestion. And here we come upon a
class of considerations and facts which open the way to a solution of
our special problem.

For starting with the unquestionable truth, that at any moment the
existing quantity of liberated nerve-force, which in an inscrutable way
produces in us the state we call feeling, _must_ expend itself in some
direction--_must_ generate an equivalent manifestation of force
somewhere--it clearly follows that, if of the several channels it may
take, one is wholly or partially closed, more must be taken by the
others; or that if two are closed, the discharge along the remaining one
must be more intense; and that, conversely, should anything determine an
unusual efflux in one direction, there will be a diminished efflux in
other directions.

Daily experience illustrates these conclusions. It is commonly remarked,
that the suppression of external signs of feeling, makes feeling more
intense. The deepest grief is silent grief. Why? Because the nervous
excitement not discharged in muscular action, discharges itself in other
nervous excitements--arouses more numerous and more remote associations
of melancholy ideas, and so increases the mass of feelings. People who
conceal their anger are habitually found to be more revengeful than
those who explode in loud speech and vehement action. Why? Because, as
before, the emotion is reflected back, accumulates, and intensifies.
Similarly, men who, as proved by their powers of representation, have
the keenest appreciation of the comic, are usually able to do and say
the most ludicrous things with perfect gravity.

On the other hand, all are familiar with the truth that bodily activity
deadens emotion. Under great irritation we get relief by walking about
rapidly. Extreme effort in the bootless attempt to achieve a desired
end greatly diminishes the intensity of the desire. Those who are forced
to exert themselves after misfortunes, do not suffer nearly so much as
those who remain quiescent. If any one wishes to check intellectual
excitement, he cannot choose a more efficient method than running till
he is exhausted. Moreover, these cases, in which the production of
feeling and thought is hindered by determining the nervous energy
towards bodily movements, have their counterparts in the cases in which
bodily movements are hindered by extra absorption of nervou