424 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



Of the Senje of Touching. 



I (hall make but a few reflections on the fenfe 

 of touching. It is the moft obtufe of all our fenfes, 

 and, neverthelefs, it is, in fome fort, the feal of 

 our intelligence. To no purpofe is an object ex- 

 pofed to the examination of the eye, in every pof- 

 fible pofition ; we cannot be perfuaded that we 

 know it, unlefs we are permitted to put it to the 

 touch. This inftinct proceeds, perhaps, from our 

 weaknefs, which feeks in thefe approximations 

 points of protection. Whatever may be in this, 

 the fenfe in queftion, blunt as it is, may be made 

 the channel of communicating intelligence, as is 

 evident from the example adduced by Chardin, 

 of the blind men of Perfia, who traced geometrical 

 figures with their fingers, and formed a very accu- 

 rate judgment of the goodnefs of a watch, by 

 handling the parts of the movement. 



Wife Nature has placed the principal organs of 

 this fenfe, which is diffufed over the whole furface 

 of our (kin, in our hands and feet, which are the 

 members the bed adapted to judge of the quality 

 pf bodies. But in order that they might not be 

 expofed to the lofs of their fenfibility, by frequent 

 (hocks, (he has bellowed, on them a great degree 



of 



