"The sudden Gusts of these Passions being thus accounted for, when they become extreme they drive about the Blood with such a Hurricane, that Nature is overset, like a Mill by a Flood: So that what drove it only quicker round before, now intirely stops it, and renders the Countenance pale and ghastly."
— Cheyne, George (1671-1743)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
George Strahan
Date
1724
Metaphor
"The sudden Gusts of these Passions being thus accounted for, when they become extreme they drive about the Blood with such a Hurricane, that Nature is overset, like a Mill by a Flood: So that what drove it only quicker round before, now intirely stops it, and renders the Countenance pale and ghastly."
Metaphor in Context
[...] The same Principles will account for the Effects of Fear, and Anger, which, make us change Colour, and look red or pale, as the Blood is accelerated or retarded in its Course. The sudden Gusts of these Passions being thus accounted for, when they become extreme they drive about the Blood with such a Hurricane, that Nature is overset, like a Mill by a Flood: So that what drove it only quicker round before, now intirely stops it, and renders the Countenance pale and ghastly. Sudden and great Fear or Grief do so convulse the Nervous System, that sometimes they alter the Position of the Parts, and fix them in a new one. Thus the Hair stands on end in a Fright, and the whole System of the Nerves becomes so rigid and stiff, as to lose their Elasticity; whereby the Animal Functions are stopp'd at once; and Fainting, and sometimes Death, ensues.
(VI, p. 155)
Categories
Provenance
Reading in the British Library
Citation
Cheyne, George. An Essay of Health and Long Life (London: George Strahan, 1724). <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
02/08/2012
