Natural History, #c. 425 



with tubercles. Hence a new means of multiplying these flowers, 

 and the illustration of a curious physiological fact *. 



13. SEAT OF THE SENSE OF TASTE. 



The following general experiments and conclusions are from a work 

 on the seat of this sense by MM. Guyot and Admyrauld. i. If the 

 anterior extremity of the tongue be inclosed in a very soft, flexible 

 case of parchment, so as to cover it completely, jelly, and in 

 general all bodies, may be introduced into the mouth, and crushed 

 between the teeth without any taste being distinguishable. The same 

 effect is obtained also by retaining the tongue apart from the cheeks 

 or teeth ; sapid objects placed beyond its action give no sensation of 

 taste. The tongue, therefore, is the essential organ of taste ; the 

 lips, palate, cheeks, and gums have no power of this kind. 



ii. Nevertheless, if the tongue be entirely covered, and very sapid 

 substances be swallowed, a little taste is perceived at the posterior 

 part of the velum palatinum. If the palatal arch be covered with 

 parchment, a sapid body produces its ordinary effect upon the 

 tongue. If a little piece of extract of aloes be fixed upon the end of 

 a rod, and passed over the palate and the roof of the mouth, it pro- 

 duces no other sensation than that of touching ; but on the anterior 

 and upper part of the soft palate there is a small portion of surface, 

 not haying definite limits, where the impression of sapid bodies is 

 very sensible ; the back part of the mouth does not partake in this 

 property, so that this small portion of the palatal vault with the 

 tongue forms the organ of taste. 



iii. If the tongue be covered with parchment, pierced at the middle 

 of its back surface, sapid bodies applied to the part produce no taste, 

 until, being dissolved in the saliva, they gain access to the edge of 

 the tongue. Extract of aloes passed over various parts of the 

 tongue produce sapid impressions within a space of only one or two 

 lines at the sides, three or four at the point, and within a curved space 

 at the back. Hence this part of the tongue and the lateral por- 

 tions are the especial organs of taste in deglutition; the portion of 

 the soft palate already mentioned prolongs the sensation f. 



14. REMARKABLE CAS'" OF THE RE-UNION OF A DIVIDED PART. 



In the Quebec Hospital Reports we find the following case : A 

 man in chopping wood cut off the first phalanx of the middle finger. 

 For two hours after the accident he remained occupied at home. 

 Although the divided portion of his finger then appeared to be 

 deprived of vitality, it was determined to follow the plan of Balfour 

 of Edinburgh, and to attempt to re-unite the parts. The tip of the 

 finger was fixed to the stump by adhesive plaster, and in three days 

 union had taken place in two or three parts ; and the extremity of 



* Jour, de Pharra, 1830. p. 760. t Bib. Univ. 1830, p. 215. 



