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a velvety appearance. There are three varieties of these 

 papillae. -The first are situated near the root of the tongue, 

 and belong' to the class of mucous follicles, whose office it is 

 to furnish this secretion. These are much larger than the 

 others, and are called lenticular, from being shaped like a 

 lens. It is these, together with the almonds of the throat, 

 or ears, as they are sometimes called, which afford the 

 mucus to lubricate the food in the act of deglutition, and 

 also to keep the tongue moist, and in a condition for the due 

 performance of its function.) 



4. The other two sets of papillae are the instruments of 

 taste. The one set is named conical, or filiform, and con- 

 sists of small nipple-shaped bodies, broader at the base than 

 the top, and scattered over the whole surface of the tongue, 

 giving it its rough or shaggy appearance. The other set 

 of papillae is larger, and consisting of small rounded heads, 

 supported on short stalks, something in the shape of a mush- 

 room, they have been called fungiform. These are but few 

 compared with the former. These sensitive papillae are 

 supplied with numerous blood-vessels as is shown in the next 

 cut. In order for the exercise of taste, it is necessary for the 

 mucous membrane, to be in a state of integrity, for if it be 

 removed, we only experience a sensation of pain. The 

 animal papillae, which abound on the sides and tip of the 

 tongue, appear to be the most exquisitely sensible. Certain 

 bodies seem to affect one part of the more than another. 

 Acids, for example, act especially on the lips and teeth ; acrid 

 bodies, like mustard and cayenne pepper, on the pharynx. 

 We read of cases in medical works, where, after the tongue 

 has been removed by disease, or a surgical operation, persons 

 could still speak, spit, chew, swallow, and taste. In one 

 case, the individual could distinguish the bitterness of sal 

 ammonial, and the sweetness of sugar ; and Blumenbach 

 mentions a young man, who was born without a tongue, and 

 yet when blindfold, could distinguish between solutions of 

 salt and aloes put upon his palate. 



