_MADAM,_
From Sound I am come to Sent, in the discourse whereof, your
_Author_[1] is pleased to set down these following propositions: 1.
_That smelling is hindred by cold and helped by heat_: 2. _That when
the Wind bloweth from the object, the smell is the stronger, and when
it blows from the sentient towards the object, the weaker, which by
experience is found in dogs, that follow the track of beasts by the
Sent_: 3. _That such bodies as are last pervious to the fluid medium,
yield less smell then such as are more pervious_: 4. _That such bodies
as are of their own nature odorous, become yet more odorous, when
they are bruised_: 5. _That when the breath is stopped (at least in
man) nothing can be smelt_: 6. _That the Sense of smelling is also
taken away by the stopping of the nostrils, though the mouth be left
open._ To begin from the last, I say, that the nose is like the other
sensitive organs, which if they be stopt, the corporeal sensitive
motions cannot take copies of the exterior objects, and therefore must
alter their action of patterning to some other, for when the eye is
shut and cannot perceive outward objects then it works to the Sense
of Touch, or on the inside of the organ to some phantasmes; and so do
the rest of the Senses. As for the stopping of breath, why it hinders
the Sent, the cause is, that the nostrils and the mouth are the chief
organs, to receive air and to let out breath: but though they be common
passages for air and breath, yet taste is onely made in the mouth
and tongue, and sent in the nose; not by the pressure of meat, and
the odoriferous object, but by patterning out the several figures or
objects of sent and taste, for the nose and the mouth will smell and
taste one, nay several things at the same time, like as the eye will
see light, colour, and other objects at once, which I think can hardly
be done by pressures; and the reason is, that the sensitive motions
in the sensitive organs make patterns of several objects at one time,
which is the cause, that when flowers, and such like odoriferous bodies
are bruised, there are as many figures made as there are parts bruised
or divided, and by reason of so many figures the sensitive knowledg is
stronger; but that stones, minerals, and the like, seem not so strong
to our smell, the reason is, that their parts being close and united,
the sensitive motions in the organ cannot so readily perceive and
pattern them out, as those bodies which are more porous and divided.
But as for the wind blowing the sent either to or from the sentient, it
is like a window or door that by the motion of opening and shutting,
hinders or disturbeth the sight; for bodies coming between the object
and the organ, make a stop of that perception. And as for the Dogs
smelling out the track of Beasts, the cause is, that the earth or
ground hath taken a copy of that sent, which copy the sensitive motions
in the nose of the Dog do pattern out, and so long as that figure or
copy lasts, the Dog perceives the sent, but if he doth not follow or
hunt readily, then there is either no perfect copy made by the ground,
or otherwise he cannot find it, which causes him to seek and smell
about until he hath it; and thus smell is not made by the motion of the
air, but by the figuring motions in the nose: Where it is also to be
observed, that not onely the motions in one, but in millions of noses,
may pattern out one little object at one time, and therefore it is not,
that the object of sent fills a room by sending out the sent from its
substance, but that so many figures are made of that object of sent
by so many several sensitive motions, which pattern the same out; and
so the air, or ground, or any other creature, whose sensitive motions
pattern out the object of sent, may perceive the same, although their
sensitive organs are not like to those of animal Creatures; for if
there be but such sensitive motions and perceptions, it is no matter
for such organs. Lastly, it is to be observed, That all Creatures
have not the same strength of smelling, but some smell stronger, some
weaker, according to the disposition of their sensitive motions: Also
there be other parts in the body, which pattern out the object of
sent, besides the nose, but those are interior parts, and take their
patterns from the nose as the organ properly designed for it; neither
is their resentment the same, because their motions are not alike, for
the stomack may perceive and pattern out a sent with aversion, when the
nose may pattern it out with pleasure. And thus much also of Sent; I
conclude and rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend,_
_and Servant._
[1] _Ch._ 29. _art._ 12.