144 PHYSIOLOGY AND TEMPERANCE. 



The sense of touch informs the mind not only as to the 

 nature of an object and its relative position, but as well the 

 degree of temperature of the air and of substances. By this 

 sense the body feels the comfort of a suitable amount of heat, 

 and learns the danger from extreme cold. The common sense 

 of the skin acts in conjunction with the muscular sense. It 

 also frequently acts in harmony with the other special senses. 



24. Special Senses closely related. The several spe- 

 cial senses have a close relationship. They not only often 

 act together and in harmony, but one will become a substi- 

 tute for another in case one is weakened or destroyed. 

 Instances of this are very common. Indeed, wherever one 

 of the special senses is lost, another will, by development, 

 assume the duties in serving the system as a whole. A blind 

 person hears more acutely, and knows more by the sense of 

 touch. The law of substitution in the human system is 

 constantly in operation, and nowhere so remarkably as in 

 connection with the nerves of special sense. 



25. Effects of Alcohol and Tobacco on the Special 

 Senses. The nerves of special sense, like those of the body 

 generally, are injured by the constant use of alcohol or 

 tobacco. We have noticed in its effects upon the nervous 

 system, that more alcohol goes to the brain than to any 

 other organ. This being the case, the special nerves centred 

 in the brain will naturally be disturbed. We find this to 

 be true. A little liquor interferes with a person's sight 

 and hearing. It is more than probable his taste and smell 

 are deficient. An acute observer will notice a man has had 

 liquor by the appearance of the eyes, even when it is only a 

 glass or two, and in that wild state of the brain, "delirium 

 tremens," the special senses are sometimes completely de- 

 praved. A man sees on the walls of his chamber all sorts of 

 moving creatures, hears strange but fancied noises, and has 

 most erratic and imaginative sensations of taste and smelL 



