266 



that form its structure, make it susceptible of very various motion, by 

 \vhich it changes its form, adapts itself to the ineciualities^Lthp surfaces 

 of bodies, and exactly embraces them : this apt confornJ^H|s particu- 

 larly manifest at the extremities of the fingers Their ante^^Brt, which 

 is endued with the most delicate feeling, receives, from -dian and 



cubital nerves, branches of some size, which end in romidedrfcxtrernitics. 

 close, and surrounded with a cellular tissue. The part of the fingers, 

 which is called their pulp, is supported by the nails; vIBps in great 

 number are spread through this nervo-cellular tissue, and moisten it with 

 abundant juices, that keep up its suppleness. When perspiration is in- 

 creased, it breaks out, in small drops, over this extremity of the fingers, 

 along the hollow of the concentric lines with which the epidermis is fur- 

 rowed*. 



It has been attempted to explain the pleasure we feel in touching round- 

 ed and smooth surfaces, by showing that the reciprocal configuration of 

 the hand and of the body to which it is applied, is such, that they touch 

 in the greatest number of points possible. The delicacy of the touch is 

 kept up by the fineness of the epidern^s : it increases by education, 

 which has more power over this sense Wn over any of the others. It 

 is known with what eagerness a child, allowed the free use of his limbs, 

 stretches his little hands to all the objects within his reach, whatjpleasurc 

 he seems to take in touching them, in all their parts, and running over all 

 their surfaces. Blind men have been known to distinguish, by touch, 

 the different colours, and even their different shades. As the difference 

 of colour depends on the disposition, the arrangement, and the number 

 of the little inequalities, which roughen the surface of bodies that ap- 

 pear the most polished, and fit them to reflect such a ray of light, absorb- 

 ing all the others, one does not refuse to believe facts of this kind, related 

 by Boyle, and other Natural Philosophers. 



Some parts appear endowed with a peculiar touch; such ure the lips, 

 whose tissue swells, and spreads out under a voluptuous contact; a vital 

 turgescence, explicable without the supposition of a spongy tissue in their 

 structure: such are those organs which Buffon considers as the seat of 

 a sixth sense. In most animals, the lips, and especially the lower one, 

 without feathers, scales, or hair, are the organs of a sort of touch, imper- 

 fect at best. When the domestic quadrupeds, such as the horse, the dog, 

 the ox, Sec. want to judge of the tangible qualities of bodies, you will 

 see them apply to it the end of their nose, the only part where the exter- 

 nal coffering is without hsiir; the fleshy appendages of certain birds, and 

 many fish with the antennae of butterflies, always set near the opening of 

 the mouth, answer the same purpose. The tail of the beaver, the trunk of 

 the elephant, are in like manner, ihe parts of their body where the touch 

 is most delicate. Observe that the perfection of the organ of touch, en- 

 sures to these two animals a degree of intelligence allotted to no other 



* The use of the peculiar lines of the epidermis, especially over the inside of the 

 lingers and palms of the hand, is rendered very evident by the effect of blisters which 

 sometimes cause an entire exfoliation of ihis texture. The new formed epidermis in 

 many instances is smooth and shining 1 , and the finger cannot for a considerable time be 

 flexed with case, until permanent folds are formed in the integuments by frequent at- 

 tempts to bend the finger. After some weeks a new epidermis is formed, having the 

 the proper lines ; and the parts are bent in every direction, without irregular doublings 

 of the skin Godmav- 



