FOOTNOTES:
[a] τὰ δὲ εἴδη τῶν χυλῶν, &c. Saporum genera,——dulcis, pinguis, austerus, acerbus, acris, salsus, amarus, acidus. Theophr. de Caus. Plant. l. 6. c. 1. What may the Cause of the difference of Tastes, he saith is hard to assign, πότερον γὰρ τοῖς πάθεσι, &c. Utrum affectionibus Sensuum——an figuris, quibus singuli constant, ut Democritus censet. id. ib. Δημόκριτος δὲ, &c. Democritus——dulcem esse saporem qui rotundus: acerbum qui figurâ magnâ; asperum qui multis angulis, &c. id. ib. &c. But of the Diversities and Causes of Tastes, see Dr. Grew, Lect. 6. and Dr. Willis de Anim. Brut. c. 12.
[] Intellectus Saporum est cæteris in primâ linguâ: Homini, & in palato. Plin. l. 11. c. 37.
The Opinions of Anatomists concerning the Organ of Taste, are various. Bauhin, T. Bartholin, Bartholette, Vestinge, Deusinge, &c. place it in the laxer, fleshy Parts of the Tongue. Our famous Wharton, in the Gland at the Root of the Tongue: Laurentius in the thin Tunick covering the Tongue; but the Learned Malpighi with great Probability concludes, because the outward Cover of the Tongue is perforated, under which lie papillary Parts, (of which Mr. Cowper, hath very good Cuts in his Anat. Tab. 13.) that in these the Taste lieth. Malpighi’s Words are, Quare cùm dictis meatibus insignibus occurrant papillaria corpora, probabilius est in his ultimo, ex subintranti sapido humore titillationem, & mordicationem quandam fieri, quæ Gustum efficiat. Malpig. Op. Tom. 2. De Linguâ, pag. 18.
Præcipuum ac ferè solum Gustatûs organon est Lingua; cui aliquatenus subobscure tamen Palatum, & superior Gulæ pars consentiunt: in omnibus verò fibræ nervosæ immediata sensionis instrumenta sunt. Quare observare est, Linguam præ aliâ quâvis parte insigniter fibrosam esse, etiam texturâ valdè porosâ constare, in eum nempe finem, ut particulæ rei sapidæ copiosiùs ac penitiùs intra Sensorii meatus admittantur——Nervi autem qui fibris Linguæ densissimè intertextis famulantur, ac saporum impressiones τῷ πρώτῳ αἰσθητηρίῳ communicant, sunt——Nervi è paribus tum quinto, tum nono; & ubique cum densâ propaginum serie per totam ejus compagem distributi. Willis ibid.
[c] Gustatus, qui sentire eorum quibus vescimur genera debet, habitat in eâ parte Oris, quâ esculentis & poculentis iter natura patefecit. Cicer. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 56. Vid. quoque supr. [Note (b), Chap. 4.]
[d] Multa hujus [quinti paris] Nervi propagines Masticationis operi destinantur; ideoque quoniam alimenta ingerenda non modo Gustus, ast etiam Olfactûs & Visûs examen subire debent, ab eodem Nervo, cujus rami ad Palatum & Fauces missi, Manducationis negotium peragunt, propagines aliæ, velut exploratrites, ad Nares & Oculos feruntur, nempe ut isthæc aliorum sensuum organa, etiam ad objecta Gustûs melius dignoscenda probationum auxiliis quibusdam instruantur. Willis Nerv. Descrip. & Usus. cap. 22.
CHAP. VI.
Of the Sense of Feeling[a].
Having spent so much Time upon the other Senses, and therein given such ample Proofs of the infinite Creator’s Wisdom; I shall but briefly take Notice of two Things relating to this last Sense.
One is its Organ, the Nerves. For as all Sensation is performed by the Nerves[], and indeed the other Senses (performed by Nerves) are a kind of Feeling; so is this Sense of Feeling performed by Nerves likewise, spread in the most incomparable, curious Manner throughout the whole Body. But to describe their Origine in the Brain, and Spinal-Marrow, their Ramifications to all the Parts; their Inosculations with one another; and other Matters; whereby not only the Sense of Feeling is perform’d, but also animal Motion, and an admirable Consent and Harmony of all the Parts of the Body is effected: (To describe, I say, these Things) would take up too much Time, and I have already, and shall, as I go along, give some Hints thereof.
The other Thing I shall take Notice of, is, the Dispersion of this Sense throughout the Body, both without, and within. The other Senses, I have observ’d, are seated in the very best Place for the Relief and Comfort, the Guard and Benefit of the Animal. And forasmuch as it is necessary to the Being, and well-being of the Body, that every Part should be sensible of Things safe, or Things prejudicial to it self; therefore it is an admirable Contrivance of the great Creator, to disperse this Sense of Feeling throughout every Part[c]; to distinguish between Pleasure and Pain; Things salutary, and Things hurtful to the Body.
Thus in the five Senses of Animals, we have an Œconomy worthy of the Creator, and manifestly demonstrating his Power, Wisdom and Indulgence. For whether we consider the Mechanism of the Organs, or the great Use and Convenience of each Sense, we find it noble and grand, curious and artificial; and every way worthy of its infinite Maker, and beyond the Wit and Power of any Thing but a GOD: And therefore we must even deny our Senses, by denying them to be God’s handy-work.
And now from those chief Machines of animal Performances and Enjoyments, the five Senses; let us pass to another Thing in common to all the Sensitive Creatures, which is Respiration.
