126 Report of Schimmel § Co. April/October 1917. 



Doubtless many animals have a keener sense of smell than human beings; however, 

 this does not justify the saying that the human smelling organs are by any means 

 degenerated. No substance exists which human beings are incapable of smelling — 

 provided it is sufficiently concentrated — but most people are simply inexperienced 

 in this matter. Extraordinary results can be attained by practice. But no doubt many 

 human beings suffer from diseases of the nasal organs, probably in consequence of the 

 habit of eating food too rich in albuminous compounds. 



Formerly, a perfectly fabulous sense of smell was ascribed to some primitive nations, 

 and people imagined then capable of detecting and pursuing human tracks by its aid. 

 However, nowadays one has come to the conclusion that in such cases the sense of 

 sight is the predomimant factor. 



That each race has a peculiar odour is generally acknowledged at the present day, 

 and there is no doubt of the fact that the various races object to each other's odour. 



The customary nose-greeting found amongst some primitive nations must also be 

 ascribed to the race-odour; such peculiarities can find expression in their languages, 

 as for instance some of such nations salute each other with the words: "smell me" or 

 "let's rub noses." 



It is worth remarking concerning the development of the sense of smell in children 

 that such sensations are already marked even within the first days after birth. 



The aesthetical importance of perfumes is generally known; the oldest records of 

 the history of civilization already give testimony to the value placed on them. 



As the capacity of the normal sense of smell can be vastly increased by practice, 

 one ought to pay more attention to its development during education. 



The effect of scents on animals has frequently been studied. There is no proof 

 whatever in this case of a specifically chemical sense, although some authors claim 

 to have observed it. In the lowest organisms, a certain general irritability can be taken 

 for granted as the first form of the sense of smell and shows itself equally in the attitude 

 of the plasm of bacteria and of unicellular beings towards osmosis, electricity, tempe- 

 rature, light, pressure, gravity, and chemicel influences. This vague primitive irritability 

 was certainly the foundation from which the various senses gradually were developed, but 

 there is no advantage whatever in regarding this primitive irritability as a special sense. 



On the whole, we do not find that the lowest organisms, like bacteria for instance, 

 plainly react in a positive sense towards useful and nutritious substances and in a 

 negative sense towards noxious and deadly ones; on the contrary, strange and hitherto 

 unexplained differences in their attitude are apparent. 



A specific sense of taste or smell does not exist amongst them. 



That the coelenterates have a sense of smell can be demonstrated. Worms also 

 show well-defined smelling organs which may be detected in the parts about the head 

 and already surpass the rudimentary forms required for distinguishing food. The echino- 

 derms, mollusks and crustaceae also have a sense of smell. A most important part is 

 played by this sense in the case of insects which are also frequently originators of 

 odours themselves, for instance for the purpose of defence or also with the object of 

 attracting or recognising other insects or beings. The antennae are the bearers of this 

 sense in insects. Although some scientists have denied this sense to fishes, there is no doubt 

 of its existence, it being of importance to them in distinguishing food. Apparently, for 

 amphibions animals this sense is not very important, although they also have well- 

 developed organs for this purpose. In the case of reptiles, the value of this sense 

 cannot be underestimated. Some of these animals disengage strong smelling secretions 

 during pairing time or for warding of attacks. In the case of birds, the real smelling 



