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. VI. Of Smelling.

I. Animals▪ by their Sense of Smelling, discover what is good or hurtful to them. SO great is the Affinity between Taste and Smelling, that they are produced and affect the Organs almost in the very same manner. For we find that Animals hunt out their Prey by their Scent, and by the same distinguish what is good, from what is hurtful to them. Thus the Smell of Catmint allures Cats; Fennel, Serpents; Bazil, Scorpions; Rue, Weezels, &c. As on the contrary, they avoid what is harmful to them by the help of the said Organ. Thus Serpents flee from the Scent of Galbanum, Scorpions abhor Wolves-bane; Flies, Brimstone; Goats, Bazil; and Ants, Organy.

The Cause of this Sympathy, or Antipathy, must be derived from the Organ of Smelling; which receives the diversity of Odours, according to the different affection and disposition of its fibres. For if the Steam that proceeds from an odoriferous Object, be delicate, and doth smoothly affect the Nerves of the Nostrils, it will cause a grateful Odour; but if the said Nerves be more rudely shaken or vellicated, this gives an unpleasing Scent. For Odour is nothing else, but the thin and insensible parts of Bodies, which being separate from each other, fly up and down in the Air, and being by the drawing in of our Breath re∣ceived into our Nostrils, do excite a motion in the Extremities of the Nerves. So that the diversity of Motions, produceth difference of Odours; and as the fibres of the Organ are more softly or roughly struck upon, accordingly are they diver∣sified. For this Reason we find, that Roses, Musk, Ambergris, and such like, afford a sweet Smell; because the Steam that proceeds from them, consists of subtil and flexible Filaments, which easily enter the Organ, and without any roughness are communicated to the Nerves. But Brimstone affords a strong and unpleasant Smell, because of the Ruggedness and Unevenness of its filaments. For Brimstone being very easily inflammable, we must suppose it to consist of many fat Steams, which being mingled with a sharp Matter, do make the filaments rough and prickly, which can∣not but affect the fibres of the Organ unpleasantly and painfully.

II. How sweet Scents may be produ∣ced from strong and unpleasant things. And on the contrary, when the strong Scent of Brimstone, is dulled by the joyning of some other Body with it, a grateful Odour is produced. Thus tho' Civet in a bulk, and by it self, have a very strong Scent; yet if 3 Grains be mixed with 10 Grains of Ambergris, and one Drop of the Juice of Lemons, and ground together, it will produce a most rich and grateful Perfume. In like manner, Musk, when it is by it self, yields a strong and overcoming Scent; but being mixt with some of the Spirit of Roses, it affords a most pleasing and delightful Smell. And they who bring Musk from the Indies, after that the Smell of it is in great part exhaled, do wrap it up in the Skin of the Animal from whence it is taken, or in Bladders, and hang it up for some days in some stinking place, having first made several Holes in

the said Skins or Bladders; and by this means re∣cover the Musk to its former fragrancy. Foras∣much as by this Fermentation, its parts are so se∣parated and attenuated, that they cannot but grate∣fully tickle the Organs of Smelling.

III. How some Bodies that have little or no scent, may be made odo∣rous. And it is for the same Reason, that the Oyl of Roses, drawn by distillation, being put into wa∣ter in a considerable Quantity, hath almost no odour at all, but being mingled with the Salt of Tartar, it makes a fluid composition, whereof some part being put into water, yields a very great and sweet perfume; the reason whereof is, to be a ascribed to the Salt of Tartar, which being a very powerful Alkali, exalts the Oyl, and renders it more volatile, and consequently more proper to be attracted together with the Air in Respira∣tion.

IV. To the per∣ception of Odours, some di∣stance is required. When a Man is too near to odoriferous Bodies, he cannot so well perceive their Effluvia. And therefore it is that Flowers do smell more sweet∣ly when they are at some distance from the Organ, than when they are too near it.

The Cause is, because the smell or odour of Ob∣jects doth not consist in their more gross and moist, as before hath been said of Taste, but in their thin and dry parts; and therefore he who is too near to the odorous Object, doth not only take in the steams that proceed from it, but also those that come forth from the Earth. But if he be some∣what further at a distance from it, he receives no∣thing but the more vivid and subtil steams, be∣cause the Grosser cannot go far off, but soon fall down to the Earth again. Wherefore some di∣stance is necessary, that the more brisk particles of the odorous Object, may freely and purely exert its power, and excite a grateful smell.

V. Perfumes are least perceived when too near. Hence it is that Perfumes cannot be so power∣fully perceived when we are too near to them; for they consisting of nothing else but a steam, flow∣ing from the odoriferous Body, by passing through some interval it becomes more purified and dis∣charged from its more thick and terrene particles, which dull and allay the sweetness of the odour. As we find that Wine mixed with Water is less tasted, because water doth break and allay its force.

VI. Plants in Syria and Arabia do far excel ours in smell. Plants in hot Countries shed a far more fra∣grant odour than in cold. Thus it is known that in, Syria, Arabia, the East-Indies, &c. many Spices are produced, and that the Fruits of the Trees that grow there, have more lasting and pungent odours.

The Reason is, the heat of the Sun in those Countries, which conduceth very much to the briskness and sweetness of odours: For by means thereof the Alimentary Juice of Plants becomes exalted and depurated in the highest degree; and thereby prepared to yield copious matter for those odoriferous steams proceeding from the Leaves, Fruits, and Flowers of them. For it is certain that odours consist of Sulphur or Salt, and that those Bodies which abound with these, do shed more abundant odours. Because heat is a great strengthner and exalter of the Sulphureous Parts, causing them to exert their force with greater ef∣ficacy; for after that the watry Humour is sepa∣rated, the remaining substance is more throughly concocted, and consequently yields a more fragrant odour. And therefore in order to the preserving of this Fragrancy, we make use of Oyl wherewith to cover them, or else shut them up in Boxes, to hinder the vapour from exhaling continually. For we find that all odorous Bodies do smell more strongly when they are hot, than when cold; in the Day time, than in the Night; in the Spring, than in Winter; and in Summer, than in the Spring, because then their parts are in greater mo∣tion.

VII. Heat con∣duceth ve∣ry much to the sweet∣ness of Odours. For the same Reason it is, that Fruits attain a more grateful scent by being prepared with fire; and that all things smell sweeter during the heat of the Summer, than when they are congealed with cold; because then their Sulphureous Parts are lockt up: whereas in hot Seasons the same is agi∣tated and diffused through the Air. And therefore we find that there are very few Seeds that afford any sent from them: for being of a very com∣pact substance, and consisting of a clammy sub∣stance, they do not easily send forth any Effluvia. And on the contrary, we find that Contusion or Bruising is a great means to excite that sweetness of odour which is found in dry things. Thus the pricking of the Rinds of Citrons or Oranges, ren∣ders them much more odorous. And Spanish Wax, which is without odour before it be put to the Fire, becomes very odoriferous, by the resolution of some of its parts into Smoak. The same may be said of Incense, Myrrh, and many other odo∣riferous Gums and Drugs, which do not exert their fragrancy till they be dissipated into Air.

VIII. What is the Cause of that sweet or strong smel•• which pro∣ceeds from some per∣sons. All Men do not smell alike, for some yield a very fragrant and pleasing odour, which Histori∣ans relate concerning Alexander the Great, whose Sweat was very pleasing and grateful to all that smelt it. Whereas others stink, or scent very strongly; which is observed of Flat-nos'd Persons, who are commonly tainted with loathsom steams proceeding from them.

A Sweet Odour proceeds from those persons, whose Alimentary Juice is exactly and throughly concocted; which then happens, when by the agita∣tion of the Body, the Pores are opened, to let out the particles of any crude Humours. The same may also be an effect of the Temperament of Men, as when Heat is greatly predominant in them; for if the said Heat be free, and is disintan∣gled from any superfluous Humour, it cannot fail of producing a sweet odour. Now that such was the Temperament of Alexander the Great, is evi∣dent from his inclination to the excess of Anger, the continual exercise of his Body, and the smooth∣ness and thinness of his Skin. But when on the contrary, the Alimentary Juice is not well digest∣ed, or by some means or other becomes depraved, this must needs produce an abominable and loath∣som smell; such as we perceive commonly in Flat∣nos'd Persons, whose steams are observed to be very nauseous; and that because the Pores, through which the Snot or Snivel is conveyed from the Brain, is too much straitned, and by reason there∣of putrifies and corrupts there. For Corruption is the most genuine cause of Stinks.

IX. Of the va∣rious Ver∣tue and Nature of Odours. And accordingly some smells are very refresh∣ing, and conducing to Health, whereas other are very inimical to Nature, and our Vital Spirits. Thus we are told that there is a People in the most remote Borders of the East Indies, about the Springs of the River Ganges, called Astomi or

Mouthless, who (if we may give credit to some Historians) live only by the odours they take in from Flowers and Fruits. So likewise it is notori∣ous, that there be many Scents which recall Per∣sons that are in a Swoond; and more particularly the smell of Vinegar: And every body knows how much Cats are delighted with the Herb Nepota, or Catmint; which acceptableness and congruity proceeds only from the odour of these things. And on the contrary, some smells are the cause of distraction, as it is related of the Sabaeans, that they used to be stupified by odours: And of Cats, that they became mad by the smell of some Oint∣ments: because these exhalations cause so violent an agitation in the Organ, that thereby the na∣tural Temperament of the Brain is destroyed, whence proceeds that tumultuary confusion of the Spirits.

X. Why distil∣led Waters lose their fragrancy, when the Flowers from whence they are drawn, are in their Prime. Rose and Orange-flower Water, with other such like Waters distilled from Flowers, keep their sweet smell all the year, except only when the Flowers, from whence they are drawn, are most fragrant, for then they lose their Scent.

The Cause whereof is, not because those Wa∣ters are indeed destitute of all Odour at that time: but the Earth then abounding with Flowers, which diffuse their steams throughout the whole Air, the Organ of Smelling is so much charged with them, that it cannot be affected with the smell that proceeds from those waters; and upon this account they are supposed destitute of all smell.

XI. The Fra∣grancy of things may be separa∣ted from their gross Body. Tinctures, Essences, &c. of Roses, Cinamon, and such like odoriferous Bodies, retain the same smell, which the things themselves had before.

The Reason is, because the nature of Odour consists in a certain texture of Sulphur and Salt. By Sulphur, the Chymists understand a Fat and Oily Substance, which according to its various mixture in various Bodies is different. Now since this Substance may by Chymical Art be extracted from Bodies, it must not be thought strange that it retains the same Odour, which the Bodies them∣selves before did.

XII. They who are troub∣led with Cold, lose their Smel∣ing. They who have got a Cold, do in a manner perceive no Odours at all.

Because the Rheum doth so obstruct the Pipes of the Olfactory Organ, into which the Odorous Steams use to insinuate themselves, that they can no longer enter them. For in this case the ob∣struction sometimes is so great, that there is no passage left in the Nostrils to draw ones Breath; and therefore it is no wonder, if the Nerves, be∣ing filled with this humour, cannot admit the Steams proceeding from odorous Objects, or if they do, yet cannot receive any due impression from them.

XIII. Why we perceive the odours of things better in the Summer than in the Winter. In Cold Weather, odorous Objects do more weak∣ly affect our Organ of Smelling.

This is, because in Winter time the pores are ob∣structed and contracted, so that their odorous Steams do not then break forth from the Bodies to which they belong. To which may be added, that the Air is thicker and more gross at that time, which therefore the odorous Steams are less able to penetrate. Hence it is that Congealed Bodies shed no fragrancy or smell at all, because by reason of the obstruction of the Pores, the Steam cannot di∣sperse it self in the Air, nor affect the olfactory Organ. Whereas on the contrary, in the Sum∣mer-time, smells are much better and strongly perceived, because the intense heat doth then agi∣tate and excite the particles, and sends them in greater abundance to the Organ. We observe also, that according as the wind is for or against us, so we either smell odorous Objects, or not smell them; for when the wind comes from those Ob∣jects, the smell of them doth more strongly affect the Organ; whereas when it is contrary, it car∣ries the said odorous Steams from us, so as that we perceive no Scent at all.

XIV. Dogs ex∣ceed Men in the quickness of Smelling. Many Beasts excel Men in the sense of Smel∣ling; and more especially Dogs, who not only exceed Men, but all other Beasts in this re∣gard.

The reason whereof may very probably be ascribed to their Organ of Smelling, as abounding with very fine and subtil Fibres, and those more fitly disposed for the reception of Odours. For it is observed that the Olfactory Organ of Dogs is drier than that of other Creatures; be∣cause their Snot doth not flow the ordinary way, but through some Pores, which may distinctly be perceived at the end of their Noses. Or else the cause of this more quick Scenting that is in Dogs, may be attributed to their not being subject to those gross Fumes arising from the Stomachs of Men, who feed upon such various sorts of Meat, which hinder the reception or perception of the subtil odorous Steams proceeding from Objects. Hence it is that Dogs, that are too much conver∣sant in Kitchins, and are too much fed, do by de∣grees lose their Sagacity, and become much infe∣riour to those who are kept shut up, and are only fed with Food, proper for hunting Dogs.

XV. Why the Sense of Smelling is weaker in Men than in Beasts. Neither is there any question to be made, but that if Men lived only upon vegetables, they would far excell others in this Sense, who fare more deliciously, and pamper themselves with Flesh and variety of Meats. Thus Sir Kenelm Digby, in his Treatise of Bodies, relates this story of one John of Liege, who fleeing into the Woods to avoid the violence of some Soldiers, li∣ved there many years, feeding all the while on Wild Apples, Acorns and Roots; who after he had been catched by some Country People, after having attained the use of speech, he declared to them, That as long as he lived in the Woods, he could by his smelling find out his Food, and distinguish that which was good, from that which was hurt∣ful; that by the same he was aware frequently of Hunters that had a design to take him, and by this means oft escaped their Hands. Which Ex∣ample makes it evident, that the quickness of the Sense of Smelling is spoiled by the vapours of di∣vers and dainty Viands; and the chief reason why Men are inferiour to Beasts in this Sense is, because their Diet is not so simple as theirs is.

XVI. Some Ani∣mals are signal for their quick∣ness of Smelling. It may also be allowed, that many Animals do exceed Man in this Sense, because of the vivacity of their Organs; as it is evident in Ravens, Vul∣tures and Dogs, which by their Sagacity pursue their Prey, or follow the footsteps of their Ma∣sters: Tigers, who by their smelling, follow them who have taken away their Whelps: Roughfooted Pigeons, who by the same sense, fetch back their Young, tho' carried into some House above 200 paces distant from them. Neither is it any

contradiction to what is here alledged, that Dogs in hunting, are sometimes at a loss, beecause this only proceeds from the great distance either of time or place in which the Odour is diffused, or when the odorous Steams are carried away by the Wind, or being mingled with other Steams pro∣duce a confusion.

XVII. How some odorous Bo∣dies may retain their Sent for a long time. It is certain that odorous Bodies by continual ex∣piration, become flaggy and are consumed; be∣cause their substance is continually wasted and dis∣persed by the exhalations that proceed from them▪ Yet as to the great, and almost inconceivable sub∣tilty of these Fumes, we have a very pregnant de∣monstration, in a piece of Ambergris, which af∣ter a continual expiration of odorous Steams for several years together, doth to our senses appear to be of the same Bulk. So that it may seem pro∣bable, that these Fumes do by a continual Circu∣lation return to their source again: Much in like manner as we have shewed in our Institution of Philosophy, that the Striate Matter moves circu∣cularly about the Loadstone; according to which Hypothesis it may be made out, that an odorous Body may continually shed its exhalations without losing ought of its substance by that means.