THE SPECIAL SENSES 259 



19. The office of the cuticle is thus made evident; it is to 

 shield the nerve-filaments from direct contact with external ob- 

 jects. At the tips of the fingers, where touch is most delicate, 

 the skin rests upon a cushion of elastic material, and receives 

 firmness and permanence of shape by means of the nail placed 

 upon the less sensitive side. Besides these favorable condi- 

 tions, the form of the arm is such, and its motions are so easy 

 and varied, that we are able to apply the test of touch in a great 

 number of directions. The slender, tapering fingers, with their 

 pliant joints, together with the strong opposing thumb, enable 

 the hand to grasp a great variety of objects ; so that, great as 

 are the delicacy and grace of the hand, it is not wanting in the 

 elements of power. 



20. Its beauty and adaptation to the wants of man have made 

 the hand an attractive theme for philosophers. They do not, 

 however, always agree in their conclusions. One has the opin- 

 ion that man has acquired his intelligence and achieved his 

 place as " lord of creation," because he has this organ. Buffon, 

 in effect, declares that with fingers twice as numerous, and twice 

 as long, we would become proportionally wiser ; but Galen long 

 ago took a more reasonable view, when he taught that " man 

 is the wisest of animals, not because he possesses the hand, but 

 because he is the wisest, and understands its use ; for his mind, 

 not his hand, has taught him the arts." Another has well said, 

 that " no one can study carefully the human hand and fail to be 

 convinced of the existence of the Deity." 



21. The Sense of Touch. Touch is the simplest of the senses. 

 It is that which the child first calls into exercise in solving the 

 early problems of existence, and it is that which is in the most 

 constant use throughout life. We are brought by the touch 

 into the most intimate relations with external objects, and by 

 it we learn the greater number, if not the most important, of the 

 properties of these objects, such as size, figure, solidity, motion, 

 and smoothness or roughness of surface. 



19. Office of the cuticle ? Tips of the fingers ? The fingers with thumb ? 



20. What special importance is attributed to the hand ? 



21. The simplicity of touch ? What does it teach us ? 



