An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Sense of Smelling.

I. Why Beasts excel Men in the Sense of Smelling. IT is certain, that Man is Inferiour to many Beasts, as to the exquisitness of the Sense of Smelling: For Beasts, when they light upon any unknown food, do presently, by the Quickness of their Scent, discover the Qualities thereof, Nature thereby preventing those Mischiefs which otherwise might be the effect of their Voracity, by their too greedily devouring things hurtful to them, if they were not assisted with such an Ex∣quisit Scent, which discovers to them the Suit∣ableness or Unsuitableness of the Food to their several Natures. By this Quickness of their Sense of Smelling they hunt out their Prey, tho' at a considerable distance from them, and tho' never so cunningly hid; according to the Relations we have in Story of Ravens, Vulturs, and Apes. Thus Dogs, by the Vivacity of this Sense pursue their Game, and follow the Steps of their Masters, tho' far out of their sight. Tigers, by the help of their quick Scent, pursue those that have robb'd them of their Whelps; and Cats find their way home, from whence they have been carried many Miles in a close shut-up Basket.

II. Why the Sense of Smelling is more dull in Man. than other Animals. Now this Sense is more dull in Man; not only, as some suppose, because he abuseth this Faculty, and fills himself with the Vapours of too great variety of Meats: But either, because his Organ is not of such an Exact Texture; or because his Brain is too moist, and so dulls and clogs the force of the Odorous Steams, by entangling the parti∣cles thereof, and hindring them from entring the Pores of the Nostrils. And for the same reason it is that we can smell nothing under Water, be∣cause the Nostrils being stopt with Water, cannot admit the Air that conveys the Odorous Exhala∣tions. Hence it is that they that have their Heads stuffed with a Cold, in a great measure lose their Sense of Smelling for that time; because the Pores that should admit the Odorous Exhalations are filled with the Rheum.

III. What the Sense of Smelling is. The Scent, or Smelling, is an External Sense, whereby an Animal, with the help of his Nostrils, which are furnish'd with very subtil Fibres, re∣ceives all manner of Smells. In all Smelling there is first a Collection of Odours, the Instrument whereof is the double Cavity of the Nostrils: In the Next place, the Sensation of the collected Odour, is propagated by means of some most Subtil Fibres: And, Lastly, this Sense is terminated and compleated by the agitation of the Nerves and Spirits, in the Conarion or Pine Apple-like Kernel.

IV. What is the Organ or Instru∣ment of Smelling. The Anatomists differ in their Opinions about the Organ of this Sense: For some of them make the Processus Mammillares, so called, to discharge this Function, which others attribute to the No∣strils. The Processus Mammillares, are 2 little bunches or protuberances of the Brain, in which 2 Conduits or Passages of the same Substance are terminated. However, these do not seem to be the Organ of Smelling; because both these Mam∣millary Processus are a portion of the Brain it self, consisting of the Pith or Marrow of it: Now, no Physicians ever owned the Brain to be the Organ of the External Senses. Besides, according to what we have before declared, the Nerves and Fibres are the Organs of the External Senses; but these Processus are too soft to be accounted Nerves; neither did ever any, that I know of, account them so. Moreover, if we place the Smelling Faculty in both these Processus, why do not we always perceive some smell or other, seeing that the Air continually flows to the Brain, with which the Odorous steams are always mingled; but this contradicts Experience. It remains there∣fore, that we place the Organ of this Sense in the Nostrils, that is, in some very subtil Fibres, de∣rived from the bottom of the Brain to the Nerves, which are not distinct from the Nerves that assist the Sense of Tasting, save only in this, that they

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Book. 1. Part. 8. Chap. 1••

Lens Inv.

I. Kip Sculp.

To the Right Worship∣full S^r. Comport Fitch of Eltham and Mount-Mascall in Kent Baronet, Son and heyre of S^r. Thomas Fitch of the said places Knight & Baronet Deceased, by Ann his Lady Daughter & Heyress of Richard Comport of Eltham aforesaid Gen∣tleman, deceased.

This Plate is humbly Dedicated by Richard Blome.

do not pass through the Skull, wherewith the Brain is cover'd; and that the Fibres also are more subtil and fine, than those that are affected by Savoury Objects.

V. The Organ of Smelling is in the Nostrils. Sense it self assures us, that the Organ of Smel∣ling is in the Nostrils; for who doth not experience that in them he Smells, that is, perceives the Affe∣ction that is imprest by Odorous Objects? To which we may add, that forasmuch as this is a most subtil Affection, as being imprest by that most fine Steam wherein the Odour is diffused, it doth not seem possible to be performed in any Bone, Gristle, or Thick Membran, and conse∣quently that it can no where so properly be per∣formed, as in this fine Texture of the Nervous Fibres.

VI. Why those that are flat Nos'd do not smell well. Whence it is that those who have their Nostrils flatted or beaten down by any bruise or fall, have but a weak or dull Sense of Smelling; because the Nerves design'd for this Function are too much comprest in the upper-part of the Nostrils, and cannot give a free passage to the Odorous Exhala∣tions. And on the contrary, Dogs, Hares, and other Animals, that excel in this Sense, have many little Pipes in the thin membran of their Nostrils, through which these Odorous Exhalations are freely transmitted.

VII. How the sense of Smelling is performed. The Sense of Smelling therefore is effected, when the most thin Particles of Bodies flying in the Air, I mean such only as are Subtil and Brisk enough for this purpose, do strike, tickle and velli∣cate the most thin fibres of the Organ, and affect it after various manners. The Hollowness of the Nostrils is a great help and advantage to the per∣ception of Odours, especially if the said Cavity be wide at the Entrance, because then the Odoriferous Particles are more readily conveyed to the Brain. For the Cavity of the Nostrils, is like a Chimney or Funnel, through which the Odorous Particles do ascend, and being gather'd together, do pene∣trate the winding of the Nostrils. Wherefore they that have long Nostrils, have a more quick Scent than others; because they attract more of the Odorous steams, whereby the Sensation be∣comes more strong and vigorous.

VIII. Air is ne∣cessary for the convey∣ing of the Odorous Exhalati∣ons. The Sense of Smelling cannot be performed with∣out Air, wherewith the Odoriferous particles being mingled, they are drawn in by the Nostrils. For Air is the most proper Medium for the diffusion of Odours; not only because it is of absolute necessity to Re∣spiration, but also because the Odour is both fur∣ther and more easily diffused and transmitted thereby. Accordingly we see, that the stench of Carkasses is mostly carried towards that part whi∣ther the Air is driven by the Wind. For this is the Nature of this, as well as of all the other Senses, that except the Organ it self be struck upon, no Sensation is effected; for the Organ of Smelling, must be struck with the same Force wherewith the Air is drawn in. For the Air being the Vehicle of the Odoriferous Exhalation, a good part of it is let down into the Wind-pipe, whilst the other more affecting a streight motion, enters the Nostrils, and dasheth against the Organ of Smelling; which Odoriferous Steam is so long perceived, as the Air is drawn in by the Nostrils, and ceaseth to be felt, when it is breath'd out again. The Reason whereof is, because the Pipes and Passages in the Nostrils, which are opened by drawing-in of the Breath, and the Entrances whereof are towards the end of the Nose, are shut again upon the breathing-out of the Air, and consequently it is necessary that thereupon the Sense of Smelling should be intermitted, and all sensible Impression upon the Organ cease. Whence it is easily understood, why one that hath a stink∣ing Breath doth not perceive the smell of it him∣self, whilst he breaths it out through his Nostrils; because the hollow Passages of the Nostrils are shut up, and Odours cannot be received contrary to the Course or Grain of the Fibres.

IX. The Odo∣rous Object is to be at some di∣stance from the Organ. The Odoriferous matter cannot be perceived, except it be at some distance from the Nostrils; because when there is a due Distance, the Terre∣strial Particles, which are always in great abu••∣dance mixed with the Air, are the more easily di••∣sipated and disperst: As a Sword must be un∣sheathed before it can do any Execution; and an Arrow must be taken out of the Quiver, before it can make a wound. For the abundance of Eva∣porations do too much agitate the Nerves, sub∣servient to the Sense of Smelling, and by stopping up their Pores, hinder the supervening Steams from penetrating them. Hence it is, that an Odour that comes from far, is more grateful and pleasant, because those Heterogeneous and Grosser particles, which are mixed with the Odoriferous steam, do by degrees sink downwards, leaving the rest pure and unmixed; which entring the Nostrils, produce a purer and more refined Scent.

X. What a Smell or Odour is, and whence diversity of Odours doth pro∣ceed. Forasmuch therefore as every Odour is a Steam, which exhaling from the Odoriferous Body, and being diffused through the Air, doth move the Organ of Smelling in the Nostrils, after a certain determinate manner, and with Force enough, it may be easily understood, what is the chief Cause of the variety of Odours. For seeing that these Steams consist of almost innumerable Filaments (of which we have an Example in the Steam of a Candle newly extinguish'd) which may be variously crooked and bent, it cannot be question'd but that according to the variety of their Par∣ticles, they do more or less move the Odoratory Nerves, and thereby give occasion to the Soul, of perceiving great diversity of Odours: So as that those steams produce grateful and sweet Odours, whose Motions are very moderate, and duly temper'd together; and those on the con∣trary produce loathsom Smells, which are more vehemently agitated, or else whose Motion is too dull and slow. For those Bodies that do not strike the Organ, and in some sort press upon it, cannot excite the Sense of Smelling.

XI. Deceptions of the sense of Smel∣ling. That we may be deceived in the sense of Smel∣ling, is evident from divers instances. For CAR∣DAN in his 8th Book de Varietate Rerum, Chap. 43. declares, that he always perceived the Smell of something or other in his Nostrils, as sometimes the smell of Flesh, sometimes that of Frankincense, and at other times the smell of some other thing. LEWIS XI. in his melancholy fits, conceited that every thing that was about him had an ill smell. There was also a French Poet that was a very melancholy Man, who being sick of a Fever▪ and persuaded by his Physicians to have his Tem∣ples anointed with Unguentum Populeum to make him sleep, conceived such an aversion for it, that for many years after he imagined that every thing

that was about him, smelt of it. There have been some persons likewise (as BARTHOLINE informs us, Hist. Nat. Centur. 4.) that could smell things that smelt well, but not such as did stink, or had an ill smell. The same Author tells us of an Apothecary, who had lost this sense, by the too frequent use of Camphire. And SCOT∣TUS Phys. Curios. Cap. 33. gives us an ac∣count of a Woman, who never could smell any thing.