MAN 
animals than in tliat of fmelling. With refpeft 
to Man, it is a fenfe which afts in a narrow fphere, 
and as frequently excites difguft as pleafure ; but, 
v/ith regard to many other animals, it is difFufed 
to a very great extent, and never feems to prove 
offenfive. Dogs not oj^dy trace the fteps of other 
animals, but alfo difcover them by their fcent at 
a very great diftance; and, while they are thus ex- 
quifitely fenfible of all fmells, they appear to be 
fatisfied with all. 
But though this fenfe is in general fo very weak 
in Man, it is much more powerful infuch nations 
as abftain from animal food than among Eu- 
ropeans. The Indian Bramins, we are informed, 
poflefs a power of fmelling equal to that of moft 
other creatures: they can fmell the v/ater which 
they drink, which to us feems quite infipid. The 
negroes of the Antilles alfo, by fmell alone, can 
diftinguifh between the footfteps of a Frenchman 
and thole of a negro. It is probable, therefore, 
that this organ is obtunded by a luxurious courfe 
of life ; and that the pleafures which might arlfe 
from odorous fmells are facrificed to the gratifica- 
tion of the tafte. However, fmelling is a fenfe 
that may, in fome meafure, be difpenfed with ; and 
inftances are not wanting of perfons who have been 
entirely deftitute of it, without experiencing any 
confiderable inconvenience from it's lofs. In a 
ftate of nature, it might have fuperior utility in 
guiding us to proper nouriftiment, and deterring 
lis from that which is unwholefome; but, in our 
prefent fituation, fuch information is little wanted, 
and indeed but little attendee! to. In fa6l, the 
fenfe of fmelling often conveys falfe intelligence. 
Many fubflances which emit a difagreeable odour, 
are neverthelefs falubrious, and pleafant to the 
talle; and fuch perfons as ftudy epicurifm as an 
art, feldom think a meal fit to pleafe the appetite 
till it begins to offend the nofe : on the contrary, 
there are many things whofe fmell is grateful, 
which yet are noxious, or fatal to the conftitution. 
Phyficians in general think that perfumes are un- 
wholefome; and that they relax the nerves, pro- 
duce head-aches, and retard digeftion. The ma- 
chined apple, which is known to be poifonous in 
a very high degree, polTeiTes a moft grateful odour ; 
and ibme of thole mineral vapours which often 
prove fatal in the ftomach, fmell like the fv/eeteft 
flowers, and thus continue to flatter till they deftroy. 
From hence it vv'ould appear, that the fenfe of 
fmelling is rather an attendant on a neceflary plea- 
fure, than a means of direfting us in the choice of 
food. Indeed, if we examine the natives of dif- 
ferent countries, or even diftinft natives of the 
fam.e, we fliall find no pleafure in which they dif- 
fer fo widely as that of fmelling. Some perfons 
are charmed with the odour of a rofe ; others can- 
not endure it. Savage nations in general are 
highly delighted with the fmell of afafoetida; 
among Europeans, it is confidered as one of the 
moft naufeous odours in nature. It would there- 
fore feem, that our deliglit in perfumes is in a 
great meafure acquired by habit; and that a very 
little induftry would bring us totally to invert the 
perception of fmells. This much is certain, that 
many bodies which at a diftance produce an 
agreeable perfume, when approached too near, 
have a moft ungrateful odour. Mufk and am- 
bergris, in fmall quantities, are confidered by moft 
perfons as highly fragrant; and yet, in larger pro- 
portions, their fcent is intolerable. 
Fromi a combination of two bodies, each of 
MAN 
which individually is deftitute of fmell, a very 
powerful perfume may be drawn. Thus, by 
grinding quick-lime with fal ammoniac, a very 
foetid mixture may be produced. On the con- 
trary, from a mixture of two bodies, feparately 
dilagreeable, a very pleafant aromatic odour may 
be gained: a mixture of aqua fortis with fpirits of 
wine will produce this elfeft. But not only the 
alteration of bodies, by means of each other, 
but alfo the fmalleft variation in our health or 
feelings, makes a very great change in this fenfe, 
and frequently deprives us of it totally. A flight 
cold often intercepts the fenfe of fmelling, and as 
often alters the nature of odours. Some perfons, 
after their recovery from a diforder, retain an un- 
conquerable averfion to thofe fmells which charm- 
ed them moft before; and many have been known 
to exprefs an antipathy to fome animals whofe 
prefence they inftantly perceived by the fmell. 
From all which it may be fairly deduced, that 
the fenfe of fmelling is an uncertain monitor, 
eafily deranged, and unfelt where moftly v/anting. 
The fenfe of tafting bears the ftrongeft affinity 
to that of fmelling. This fome have confidered 
as a nicer kind of touch, and have accordingly un- 
dertaken to account, in a very mechanical man- 
ner, for the diflerence of favours. Such bodies, 
fay tliey, as are pointed, happening to be applied 
to the papilla of the tongue, excite a very pov/- 
erful fenfatlon, and give us the idea of faltnefs: 
fuch, on the contrary, as are of a rounder figure. 
Aide fmoothly along the papilla?, and are per- 
ceived to be fweet. In this manner, with minute 
labour, they have gone through the varieties of 
imagined forms in bodies, and have affigncd to 
each of them imaginary effefts. All that can be 
determined with precifion on the nature of tafte 
Is, that the fubftances to be tafted muft be either 
fomewhat moiftened, or in fome meafure diflx)lved 
by the faliva, before they can produce a proper 
fenfation. Provided the tongue itfelf, and the 
body to be tafted, are extremely dry, no taitc 
whatever enfues: the fenfation is then changedj 
and the tongue, inftead of tafting, can only be 
faid to feel the objed. For this reafon, children 
have a ftronger relifli of taftes than tliofe who are 
more advanced in life. This organ, with them, 
from the greater moifture of their bodies, is pre- 
ferved in greater perfeftion ; and is confequently 
better adapted to perform it's funftions. Moft 
perfons remember how great a pleafure they ex- 
perienced in fweets while children ; but their tafte 
growing more obtufe through age, they are 
obliged to excite it by artificial means: then they 
call in the afliftance of poignant fauces, of ftrono- 
relifties, and falts and aromatics ; all v/hich the 
delicacy of their tender organs in childhood 
were tinable to endure. With age, the tafte 
grows callous to natural relifties, and is artifi- 
cially formed to others more unnatural; fo that 
the higheft epicure may be truly faid to have 
the moft depraved tafte, as, from the obtufenefs 
of his organs, he is obliged to have recourfe to 
fuch a variety of expedients for gratifying his 
vitiated appetite. 
As fmells are frequently rendered agreeable by 
habit, fo alfo are taftes. Tobacco and coffee, 
fo pleafing to many, are neverthelefs at firft dif- 
agreeable to all : it is not without perfeverance 
that we begin to relilh them ; but we force na- 
ture fo long, that what was conftraint in the be- 
ginning at laft becomes inclinationo 
Feeling 
