THE FOUR BASIC TEMPERAMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8020, 6 August 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE FOUR BASIC TEMPERAMENTS.

It is an old observation in medicico, old a3 Hippocrates, that men are widely divided by temperaments, and that certain temperaments are better or worse than others in respect to the life value of those in whom they are discovered. At various periods different observers have described tho human temperaments in different language and under different classifications, but it ahowa how little man has changed in respect to temperament when wo learn, as we easily can, by comparing the descriptions of the Father of Medicine with tho natural fsct3 lying before us at this hour, that the temperamenta presented three thousand years ago are presented practically unchanged in the present day. There are four basic temperamontE, all of which ought to be recognised in measuring up life for insurance. It is true they often commingle, two or ccoro'of them blending in the saino person, owing to blendings of different temperaments through marriages ; but when the bases are understood the blending aro easily read off. The basic temperaments are (a) tho sanguine ; (b) the nervous ; (c) tho bilious ; (d) the lymphatic. THE SANGUINE TEMPERAMENT. In persons of the pure sanguine or sanguineous tempsramsnt tho hair ia red, or of warm auburn colour ; the eyes are light blue or hazel-grey ; the complexion in ruddy ; the akin ia usually freckled ; the body is strong, tall, lithe, active ; the voice sharp and piercing ; tho temper quick; the mir.d hasty, keen, perceptive; the circulation quick, steady, and firm. Persons of this temperament, if thoy lead regular lives, .ire. as a rule, happy and long-lived. If they are ill, they recover quickly when recovery commences, although they are very liable* to acute diseaße ; and if they do not actually recover, they hold long and tenaciously to life. They aro reputed, and properly so, as of " wiry constitution." Thoy may generally bo accepted as good lives for assurance, and if they aro in health, they look younger than they really arc. If they look older than they really are, they may fairly be suspected of organic deterioration in some vital part, THK NERVOUS TEMPERAMENT. Persons of nervous temperament have light hair; blue, deep blue, or bluish-grey eyes; fair complexion, with often abundant freckles; calm and soft features ; and open expression. The representatives of this typo vary extremely in respect to build and strength of body, for they are subject opacially to the strumous diathesis. In the most favoured specimens the body is splendidly developed ; the skeleton is large and strong, the muscles firm and strong ; the movements of the body, slower than in those of the Ban- ! guine type, are graceful and powerful; the \ voice is fall and resonant, the temper even, the will resolute, the circulation firm. In the least favoured specimens of tho nervous temperament the complexion is pale, the hair greyish whito, tho features small, the expression fesble, the* skeleton slight, the muncles deficient in power, the gait and bodily movement generally weak, tho voico feeble, the temper irritable, the will irresolute, the circulation feeble. In these representatives of the nervous temperament the evidences of strumous affection are usually ' to be detected, and the history of the strumous diathesis is traceable in the line of their family. For insurance the people of nervous temperament who are of the first class aro fairly rocommendable, though they are not so long-lived as persons of the sanguine type. Those of them who come under the second division I havo named are bad representatives for insurance even at their best. THE BILIOUS TEMPERAMENT. Representatives of the bilious tempera* mont have dark hair, dark eyes, swarthy I skin, largo end often finely chiselled features, and staid expression. They hare frequently the skeleton finely developed, and have great muscular pdwor. They aro, however, less litho and active than those who are of sanguine cast, but they possess much greater mental capacity. Their voice is full and melodious, their temper passive, their will firm, their circulation steady and slow. They live to a full, if not a ripe old age, when they aro not exposed to unusual wear and tear of life. Taken as a whole, their vitality affords an excellent average. They are good lives for assurance. THE LYMPHATIC TEMPERAMENT. The representatives of tae lymphatio temperament have watery blue or grey oyes, light brownish white, or ash-coloured hair, pale complexion, heavy features, and dull expression. The skeleton, if it bo large, is not elegantly formed, and the muscles, even though they be fully developed, are flaccid and feeble. The movements of tho limbs are clumsy, and tho gait heavy. In the matter of physical construction, persons of pure lymphatic temperament are not favourably placed for enjoying length of life, for they are easily reduced in power during disease, and probably are open to danger from over • strain and physical shock in a more decided degree than others. But they have one remarkable redeeming quality, namely, that they are of even mind and take tho events ot life with more complacency than any other class of thoir fellows. This ensures them from much harm that would otherwise be apt to occur to them. They are not usually longlived, for their tendency is to repose and inactivity, under which they are prone to fatty degenerative changes; but they live commonly to a fair term of years, and are moderately favourable for insurance.