Could you ask any one to observe
this for me in an eye-dispensary or hospital? But I now have to beg you
kindly to consider one other question at any time when you have half an
hour's leisure.

When a man coughs violently from choking or retches violently, even when
he yawns, and when he laughs violently, tears come into the eyes. Now,
in all these cases I observe that the orbicularis muscle is more or less
spasmodically contracted, as also in the crying of a child. So, again,
when the muscles of the abdomen contract violently in a propelling
manner, and the breath is, I think, always held, as during the
evacuation of a very costive man, and as (I hear) with a woman during
severe labour-pains, the orbicularis contracts, and tears come into
the eyes. Sir J.E. Tennant states that tears roll down the cheeks
of elephants when screaming and trumpeting at first being captured;
accordingly I went to the Zoological Gardens, and the keeper made two
elephants trumpet, and when they did this violently the orbicularis was
invariably plainly contracted. Hence I am led to conclude that there
must be some relation between the contraction of this muscle and the
secretion of tears. Can you tell me what this relation is? Does the
orbicularis press against, and so directly stimulate, the lachrymal
gland? As a slight blow on the eye causes, by reflex action, a
copious effusion of tears, can the slight spasmodic contraction of the
orbicularis act like a blow? This seems hardly possible. Does the same
nerve which runs to the orbicularis send off fibrils to the lachrymal
glands; and if so, when the order goes for the muscle to contract,
is nervous force sent sympathetically at the same time to the glands?
(464/3. See "Expression of the Emotions," page 169.)

I should be extremely much obliged if you [would] have the kindness to
give me your opinion on this point.

LETTER 465. TO F.C. DONDERS.

(465/1. Mr. Darwin was indebted to Sir W. Bowman for an introduction to
Professor Donders, whose work on Sir Charles Bell's views is quoted in
the "Expression of the Emotions," pages 160-62.)

Down, June 3rd [1870?].

I do not know how to thank you enough for the very great trouble which
you have taken in writing at such length, and for your kind expressions
towards me. I am particularly obliged for the abstract with respect to
Sir C. Bell's views (465/2. See "Expression of the Emotions," pages 158
et seq.: Sir Charles Bell's view is that adopt