BARON CUVIER. 39 



chemical analysis of various part of the body, (fcc, M. Cu- 

 vier proceeds : — " We perceive the action of external bodies 

 on our own, in proportion as the nerve which is affected by 

 them commimicates with the spinal chord, or common bun- 

 dle of nerves, and this with the brain : a ligature, or a rup- 

 ture, by intercepting the physical communication, destroys 

 the feeling. The only sense which belongs to all ani- 

 mals, and v/hich exercises its influence over nearly the 

 whole of the surface of the body of each, is the touch. It 

 resides in the extremities of the nerves which are distributed 

 through the skin, and makes known to us the resistance 

 of bodies and their temperature. The other senses seem to 

 be but more elevated modifications of the touch, and are 

 susceptible of more delicate impressions. Every one knows 

 that they are the sight, which resides in the eye ; the hear- 

 ing, which resides in the ear ; the smell, which resides in 

 the membranes inside the nose ; and the taste, the seat of 

 which is in the teguments of the tongue. These are all 

 .situated at the same extremity of the body which contains 

 the brain, and wdiich we call the head, or chief. Light, 

 vibrations of the air, volatile emanations floating in the at- 

 mosphere, and saline particles soluble in water, or the saliva, 

 are the substances which act on these four senses, and the 

 organs which transmit their action to the nerves are espe- 

 cially adapted to each. The eye presents transparent lenses 

 to the light, which break its rays ; the ear offers membranes 

 and fluids to the air, which receive its agitations ; the nose 

 draws up the air which goes to the lungs, and in its passage 

 attracts the odorous vapours contained in it ; and, lastly, 

 the tongue is furnished with spongy papillae, which imbibe 

 the savoury liquids offered to it. It is by these means that 

 we are conscious of the things and circumstances w^hich 

 pass around us, and of the vast number of those which pass 

 within us ; and, independent of the internal pains which 

 warn us of some disorder in our organization, and the 

 sufferings occasioned by hunger, thirst, and fatigue, it is by 

 means of these senses that we feel the emotions of pity, the 

 agonies of fear, <fec. These latter sensations are rather the 

 effect of a re-action on the nervous system than immediate 

 impressions ; and as the sight of some imminent danger 

 makes us fly without the will having had time to act, it is 

 also involuntarily that we feel transport at the sight of a 



