418 



HITCHCOCK'S ANATOMY 



rubbing, with cold water ; the ear not only needs the applies 

 tion of cold water, but occasionally the careful use of the ear- 

 pick to remove the accumulations of wax which is gathered 

 beyond the reach of ordinary washing. If the nostrils are 

 buried by collections of snuffy how can we expect acuteness in 

 the sense of smell ? 



776. — 4. Senses Need Education . — The senses need edu- 

 cation. No portions of the body show so well the good effects 

 of discipline and practice as do the organs of sense. The 

 power which, by training, can be acquired of distinguishing 

 the faintest shades of color, the slightest discord between mu- 

 sical tones, and of the quality and flavor of food and drinks 

 by the smell and taste, is so great as to astonish us. 



777. — 5. Is Taste a Proper Guide for the Appetite? — 



The question often arises whether the sense of taste can be 

 considered a safe guide for the appetite. As it is natural, 

 some maintain that it should always be gratified. But even 

 if originally safe to follow, how often has it been perverted by 

 extravagant diet, and is at the time in a morbid condition from 

 a perverted state of the body ? If such be the case, we should 

 be on our guard against indulging peculiar appetites, or strange 

 tastes. But in some cases, of which the physician is the best 

 judge, it may be safe to allow a reasonable indulgence in a 

 desire for a peculiar article of food or drink. 



778. — 6. Our Senses Sometimes become Sources of Mis- 

 ery. — In such a world as this our senses, especially if exqui- 

 sitely cultivated, often become inlets of keen suffering. Ob- 

 jects disgusting to the soul must necessarily obtrude themselves 

 upon every one. Those who are afflicted with a dainty appe- 

 tite and are very nice and particular as to their food, often 

 suffer acutely ; while he who has learned to eat only that he 

 may live, instead of living only that he may eat, experiences 



776. Do the senses show the good effect of education ? 777. Is taste a sufficient guide 

 for the appetite ? What is said of peculiar appetites and tastes? 778. Do our senses ever 

 give us pain ? In what way does a cultivated taste often make us wretched? 



