OF NATURAL HISTORY. 163 



ty Ingredients in one difh, blunt, corrupt, and deceive both their 

 fenfes of fmelling and of tafting. Were we in the fame natural 

 condition as the brutes, our fenfe of fmelling would enable us to di- 

 ftinguiih, with equal certainty, noxious from falutary food. Brutes, 

 as well as men, prefer particular foods to others. This may be co^i- 

 fidered as a fpecies of luxury; but it fliould likewife be confidered, 

 that all the articles they ufe are either animal or vegetable fubftances 

 in a natural ftate, neither converted into a thoufand forms and qua- 

 lities by the operation of fire and water, nor having their favour ex- 

 alted by ftimulating condiments. Domeftic animals are nearly in the 

 fame condition with luxurious men. A pampered dog fnuffs and 

 rejeds many kinds of food, which, in a natural ftate, he would de- 

 vour with eagernefs. 



It is not unworthy of remark, that, in all animals, the organs of 

 fmelling and of tafting are uniformly fituated very near each other. 

 Here the intention of Nature is evident. The vicinity of thefe two 

 fenfes forms a double guard in the feledion of food. Were they 

 placed in diftant parts of the body, they could not fo readily give 

 mutual aid to one another. 



But affiftance in the choice of food is not the only advantage that 

 men and other animals derive from the fenfe of fmelling. Every 

 body in nature, whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, when expo- 

 fed to the air, continually fends forth emanations, or effluvia, of 

 fuch extreme fubtilty, that no eye can perceive them. Thefe efflu- 

 via, or volatile particles, diffufe themfelves through the air, and moft 

 of them are recognifed, by the organ of fmelling, to be either agree- 

 able or difagreeable. To give fome idea of the inconceivable mi- 

 nutenefs of thefe particles, and of the amazing fenfibility of the 

 noftrils of animals, the odour of mufk has been known to fill a 

 large fpace for feveral years without lofing any perceptible part of 

 I X 2 its 



