TOUCH. 125 



without language ; and therefore there must be a natural lan- 

 guage before any artificial language can be invented.' * 



Of Touch. 



The sensations of smelling, tasting, hearing, and seeing, 

 are conveyed to us by partial organs, which are all confined 

 to the head. But the sense of touching, or of feeling, is not 

 only common to these organs, but extends over almost every 

 part of the body, whether external or internal. Though every 

 sensation may be comprehended under the general appella- 

 tion of feeling, yet what is called the sense of touch is 

 properly restricted to the different sensations excited by 

 bodies applied to the skin, and particularly to the tips of the 

 fingers. 



With regard to sensation in general, it is worthy of remark, 

 that the eyes, the ears, the nostrils, the tongue and palate, 

 the palms of the hands, especially towards the points of the 

 fingers, are more amply supplied with nerves than any other 

 external parts of the body. The terminations of the nerves 

 on the surface of the skin are soft and pulpy, and form minute 

 protuberances, resembling the nap of /rieze cloth, though 

 greatly inferior in magnitude. These protuberances have re- 

 ceived the denomination of nervus papilla. They might 

 be called animal feelers ; for they are obviously the immediate 

 instruments of sensation. If an object be presented to the 

 eye, or any other organ of sensation, certain feelings are ex- 

 cited, which are either agreeable or disagreeable, according 

 to the real or imaginary qualities which we consider as be- 

 longing to that object. The feelings thus excited instantly 

 produce a change in the sensitive organs by which they are 

 occasioned. If the object be possessed of disagreeable quali- 

 ties, aversion is the necessary consequence. But, if beauty 

 and utility are perceived in the object, pleasant emotions 

 spring up in the mind, which naturally induce a similar tone 

 or disposition in the organs suited for the enjoyment of these 

 qualities. 



When examining or enjoying any object, it is natural to 

 inquire, what are the changes produced in the nervous papillae 

 or organs of sensation. If an object possessed of agreeable 

 feelings is perceived, the nervous papillae instantly extend 

 themselves, and, from a state of flaccidity, become compara- 



* Dr. Reid's Inquiry on the Human Mind, on the Priniples of Common Sense. 3 

 11 * 



