THE BODY TEMPLE 67 



communicate with the large nasal cavity, partially 

 divided into two compartments by the septum of the 

 nose, and which communicate at its back part through 

 a single opening to the mouth, and thence with the air 

 l^assages leading to the lungs. 



On either side of the nasal cavity, three scroll- 

 shaped projections, ranged one above the other, are 

 to be found. The mucous membrane covering the 

 uppermost of these projections, together with that 

 which lines the other portions of the roof of the nasal 

 cavity, contains the nerves of smell, by means of which 

 we are able to distinguish odors. In civilized human 

 beings, this sense is by no means as acute as in the 

 lower animals and in members of savage tribes. This 

 is undoubtedly due to the neglect to cultivate this im- 

 portant sense. It may also be attributed, in part at 

 least, to the very general prevalence of nasal catarrh, 

 which often results in partial or complete destruction 

 of the sense of smell. 



How and What We Taste.— The nerves of taste 

 are located in the tongue and the back part of the 

 mouth. Substances must be dissolved, to be tasted. 

 The tongue, as well as the skin, is an organ of touch. 

 Indeed, it is much more sensitive to touch than the 

 skin. Substances which have an acrid, saline, or as- 

 tringent flavor, like mustard, pepper, salt, etc., we do 

 not taste, but feel. Many other substances which have 

 a pronounced odor, are smelled rather than tasted. 



