RAII.KV: Sr'NSE OF TASTE AMON(; INniANS. 97 



It may be of interest to compare these results with tliose obtained 

 when experimenting with a class of white pupils some time ago. 

 Thev were of nearly the same age as the Indians. The number 

 selected for the comparison is twenty-six males and twenty-six 

 females. 



SUBSTANCES. CETECTEO Bv MAI ES. D«T£,^TED BY FEMALES. AVERJGE- 



Bitter i ])art in 600,000 i part in 755,000 678,000 



Sweet I part in i 28 i ])art in 12S 128 



.A.cid I part in 3,520 i part in 4, 160 3,840 



Alkali 1 part in 160 i part in 192 176 



Salt I part in 4S0 1 part in 320 400 



l^'rom an examination and comparison of these results it may be 

 noticed that the order of delicacy is about the same for the two races. 

 By that is meant that both races can detect the smallest part of qui- 

 nine, the next smallest part of an acid and so on. In the experi- 

 ments note above upon the bitter substances, when only bitter sub- 

 stances were tasted it was found that the average amount of qui- 

 nin that could be detected was one part in 76,000. Here, where a 

 variety of substances is presented to the organs of taste the whites can 

 detect a much smaller amount. 



It is also evident that the ability to detect the different substances 

 when they are in very dilute solutions is less in the Indians than in 

 the whites. This may be ascribed to various causes, but after all the 

 most important is no doubt lack of familiarity with the different sub- 

 stances. There have been no opportunities to cultivate the sense of 

 taste as highly as it is cultivated in the white race. It has so fre- 

 quently been demonstrated that this sense in common with others can 

 be cultivated, that we rather expect to find lack of delicacy among 

 the Indians. 



The males seem to be able to detect a smaller quantity of salt than 

 the females. As this is the result of observation with both races, it 

 may not be accidental, but ma)' be due to the habits of the different 

 sexes. 



In other cases the females aj^pear to have the more delicate organ 

 of taste. As this has been the experience in a number of individual 

 sets of tests, it is probably not accidental. Some have attempted 

 to explain this by the fact tlmt men more frecjuently use tobacco, 

 others b\- the facility that women have for tasting substances used in 

 cooking and in the preparation of food. The Indians at the schools 

 are not supposed to use tobacco, but as thev often do, it is not best to 

 assume too much as to their habits. In the class of whites tested 

 were many who were students in chemistry and pharmacy and who are 

 supposetl to culti\'ate the sense of taste especially. 



