40 ORGAN OF TASTE. 



fibres and t]ieir relation to otlier tissue elements may 

 be studied with success. 



65. Organ of taste. — The tongue is a highly com- 

 plex organ ; not only is it exceedingly sensitive as an 

 organ of touch and taste, but the muscles, of which the 

 substance of the tongue is entirely composed, are re- 

 markable for the delicacy and perfection of their move- 

 ments, and for the wonderfully rapid and varied con- 

 tractions executed by them, which are purely volun- 

 tary. The movements of the tongue so immediately 

 respond to the will that they almost seem to represent 

 the undulations of the mind. By its changes in form, at 

 the same time that a current of air is made to traverse 

 the vocal organ, by the action of other muscles, whose 

 contractions are harmonised with the lingual move- 

 ments, not only may ideas be expressed in words and 

 rendered evident to others almost as fast as they are 

 formed, but the sounds may be so accentuated as to 

 convey to the understanding of others for more than 

 is indicated by the mere words themselves. 



66. Organ of hearing. — The ear is developed at 

 the time of birth, but it continues to improve even for 

 many years afterwards. Its structure is most elabo- 

 rate, and the arrangement of every part is such that 

 it is not possible to explain its construction by any 

 known laws. To attribute the formation of so com- 

 plex an organ, consisting of so many elaborate, inter- 

 dependent, and mutually adapted parts to evolution 

 is mere trifling with words. A few years ago it 

 would have been said that its development was due to 

 the gradual differentiation of the originally homo- 

 geneous — but such phrases are sad examples of what 

 by worldly-minded persons would be termed imposi- 

 tion. Statements of this kind would certainly justify 

 the inference of clever, if ungenerous critics, that the 

 authorities who employ them must have a supreme 

 contempt for the people whom they profess to be 



