172 TASTE. 



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animals. By thus making them acquainted with the 

 presence of their enemies or their prey, when the eye 

 and ear are incapable of acting, it possesses an impor- 

 tance in them, far beyond what it has in man. A trav- 

 eller in Africa relates, that they were always apprized 

 of lions being in their vicinity during the night, by the 

 moans and trembling of their horses. 



Emily. 1 have read too, that the American bison will 

 snuff the effluvia of man, for the distance of many miles. 

 And think how accurately a dog will track his master 

 merely by his scent. 



Dr. B. Spurzheim mentions one which followed his 

 master through several countries in Europe. 



Emily. How does the sense exist in the lower orders 

 of animals the Fishes, for instance. 



Dr. B. Fishes possess it in a remarkable degree of 

 acuteness. This is well manifested in the nicety they 

 exhibit in regard to different baits employed in taking 

 them. Thus, a worm that has lost its flavor by long 

 maceration in water, will be refused by a fish ; but the 

 same worm, after having its odour revived by fresh in- 

 cisions made into it, will be taken greedily. In the or-^ 

 ders still lower, the sense is quite obscure, and we know 

 but little about it. We must now consider the sense of 

 Taste, and so simple is its nature, that I presume you 

 can easily define it yourself. 



Emily. It is the sense which makes us acquainted 

 with the impressions produced on the tongue by sapid 

 bodies., There am I correct ? 



Dr. B, The tongue is the principle organ indeed, 

 but the sense is possessed in some degree by the lips, 

 sides of the cheek, and palate. These parts are all 

 abundantly provided with vessels and nerves which are 

 expanded beneath the lining membrane, and form little 

 eminences called nervous papilla. These are the seat 

 of the impressions, which are transmitted from them to 

 the brain. In order that the sense may be perfectly 



