THE SPECIAL SENSES. 191 



results from an impression made upon the nerves of touch, 

 that ramify in the tongue. In like manner, the qualities 

 known as smooth, oily, watery, and mealy tastes, are depend- 

 ent upon these same nerves of touch. A burning or pungent 

 taste is a sensation of pain, having its seat in the tongue and 

 throat. A cooling taste, like that of mint, pertains to that 

 modification of touch called the sense of temperature. 



35. Taste is largely dependent upon the sense of smell. 

 A considerable number of substances, like vanilla, coffee, 

 and garlic, which appear to possess a strong and distinct 

 flavor, have in reality a powerful odor, but only a feeble 

 taste. When the sense of smell is interfered with by hold- 

 ing the nose, it becomes difficult to distinguish between sub- 

 stances of this class. The same effect is frequently observed 

 when smell is blunted during an ordinary cold in the head. 

 Sight also contributes to taste. With the eyes closed, food 

 appears comparatively insipid; and a person smoking 

 tobacco in the dark is unable to determine by the taste 

 whether his cigar is lighted or not. Accordingly, it is not 

 a bad plan to close the nose and shut the eyes when about 

 to swallow some disagreeable medicine. 



36. Influence of Education on the Taste. The 

 chief use of the sense of taste appears to be to act as a 

 guide in the selection of proper food. Hence its organs are 

 properly placed at the entrance of the digestive canal. As 

 a general rule, those articles which gratify the taste are 

 wholesome ; while the opposite is true of those which im- 

 press it disagreeably. This statement is more exact in 

 reference to the early years of life than to later years, 

 when, by reason of mischievous habits, the sense of taste 

 has become dulled or perverted. The desires of a child 

 are simple ; he is fully satisfied with plain and wholesome 

 articles of diet, and must usually "learn to like" those 



35. Its dependence on smell? on 



36. The chief use of the sense of taste? The position of its organs ? The rule 

 as regards wholesome and unwholesome food ? Remarks- respecting the rule ? 



