.37 2. *fbe Tongue tie Organ of <Taftt. [Book IX. 



over the whole fuperior part and fides of the tongue. 

 They are endued with a very acute power of ienfation, 

 and are the true organs of tafte. Thefe conical pa- 

 pilla differ greatly in their fize j and fome of them are 

 extremely minute. On an accurate examination we 

 alfo find fome filiform papillae placed in the interftices 

 of the conical. 



Thefe papillae, befides being copioufly fupplied with 

 blood, are alfo furnifiied with nerves, of which the 

 tongue receives more, in proportion to its bulk, than 

 perhaps any other part of the body. The exhaling 

 arteries, which are numeroufly diftributed on the fur- 

 face of the tongue, have no further concern in the fenfc 

 of tafting, than as they help to moiften and keep the 

 papillsc in a fit Hate to perform their office. On the 

 upper, and towards the back part of the tongue, are 

 two or three openings, which pour out a mucous fluid. 

 The papillae in man are covered with a thin and femi- 

 pellucid membrane, which anfwers the purpofe of an 

 epidermis. In many animals, as thofe which feed on 

 grafs, the tongue is covered with a very rough and 

 thick membrane, perforated fo as to admit the dif- 

 iblved food to the papillae, which are placed beneath it. 



Under the papillae is placed the mufcular fubftance 

 of the tongue. The mufcles, which conftitute this 

 fubftance, are fo numerous, and are fo confounded with 

 each other and with the fat, that the moft diligent 

 anatomift is unable to trace the courfe of many of 

 them. By the help of thefe mufcles the tongue is 

 moveable in all directions, and may be rendered broad, 

 narrow, or hollow, at pleafure. The tongue is very 

 plentifully fupplied with blood- veflels. 



A circumftance univerfally neceffary to a body being 

 tafted is, that it (hould be diflblved in the faliva, and 

 in that ftate applied to the papillse. 



