i 5 4 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



cloth doubled in several folds, if they would escape violent hem- 

 orrhage. 



The smell of the lily, the narcissus, the tuberose, the violet, the rose, 

 the elder, etc., when it reaches a certain point of concentration, usually 

 exerts an injurious influence on the system. It occasions more or less 

 severe headaches, fainting-fits, and sometimes even more serious dis- 

 orders. Some odors, which have an agreeable perfume in a state of 

 considerable diffusion, gain when concentrated a noxious and sometimes 

 dangerous smell. This is particularly true of civet, patchouli, and the 

 essences of neroli and thyme. Scientific records mention several cases 

 of death occasioned by the poisonous action of some odorous emana- 

 tions. It has been remarked that plants of the family of labiates, 

 such as sage, rosemary, etc., offer in this respect no sort of risk, and 

 seem rather to enjoy wholesome properties. Yet it is of consequence 

 at this point to distinguish between the action of the odor which 

 is in a manner purely dynamic, the intoxication from the essence, 

 and the effect of carbonic acid thrown off by plants. These three 

 influences have often been confounded by authors who have recorded 

 accidents occurring after the inhalation, more or less prolonged, of 

 odoriferous air. 



This variable action of odors on the nervous system, sometimes 

 wholesome, sometimes noxious, explains the part they have always 

 played in the various circumstances of life among mankind. It would 

 need a volume to relate the religious, political, economic, and gallant 

 history of odors and perfumes. We must be content here with notic- 

 ing its chief lessons, as far as they are connected with the physiologi- 

 cal theory which is the basis of this study. For there is unquestion- 

 ably something instinctive at the bottom of these general and uniform 

 customs which exhibit the affinity of man for odors. Doubtless we 

 must recognize in this rather a refinement of sensuality than a natural 

 craving ; but the same result has occurred in this case as in the in- 

 stance of beverages, of music, etc. Habit has become in some sort 

 a second nature; the senses have acquired a taste for that especial 

 intoxication which beguiles them and disguises painful realities for 

 them. 



It is in religion, in the first place, that we observe the use of per- 

 fumes. Nothing holy or lofty was conceived of in which their influ- 

 ence was not present. Perfumes won the gods to give ear to the vows 

 addressed to them in temples where burning incense diffused its fra- 

 grant clouds. From the highest antiquity we find that the priests of 

 different religions avail themselves of the use of odoriferous substances. 

 Five times a day the disciples of Zoroaster laid perfumes upon the 

 altar where the sacred flame glowed. Moses, in Exodus, recorded the 

 composition of two perfumes used in the sacred rites. The Greeks 

 assigned a leading place to odors in their ingenious fictions of theol- 

 ogy. They believed that the gods always declare their presence by an 



