Juan Huarte de san Juan (1529–1588), The Examination of Mens Wits. in Whicch, by Discouering the Varietie of Natures, is Shewed for what Profession each One is Apt, and How Far He Shall Profit Therein

Juan Huarte de San Juan was a Spanish physician whose work Examen de ingenios para las ciencias (The Examination of Men’s Wits) was first published in 1575 and enjoyed a huge readership with numerous new editions and translations into other European languages even though it was initially banned by the Spanish and Portuguese inquisitions. Juan Huarte examined the different abilities of children and adults. Like many of his contemporaries, Huarte believed that humoral temperaments had an effect on individuals and in this work explained that differences in the memory and understanding in particular were linked to the moistness or dryness of the brain. In this passage, Juan Huarte explores the origin of laughter and why some people are particularly predisposed to laugh.