Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-09-26
thus impart perfume to large body of

| N%ANAA "a Z -al lEAt ~ btlI HpNlIIlS. ana
the action OF water is thought by NJ Lie
geois to assist in the formation of them,
In the morning, when the ground is
moist, and the flowers are covered with
dew-drops, there is large exhalation of
perfume, and similarly after a shower of
rain In gustation, we have something
analogous the saliva is fitted to ditluse
the odorant principle by the motion Of
the tongue in the cavity Of the mouth,
this diffusion Is promoted, for the surface
of evaporation is enlarged. Now, IN the
same way as the small particles diffuse
themselves in water do they 3itluse them.
selves in air, which then becomes the
vehicle carrying them TO our uostris
Some odorous substances have "a very
great ditiusibility, Ambergris. newly
cast on the shore, is smalt long way Oft
Bertholin states that the odor of rosemary
oil the Spanish coast is perceptible long
before the land comes in sight. The de.
gree of division of the particles is in
some cases marvellous, A grain of musk
will perfume an apartment for whole
year without sensibly losing weight
Halter mentions having kept for forty
years some pieces Of paper perfumed
with grain of 3mlergris, and at the end
of that time they still retained their odor.
1t is to be noted that the odorOus par
] ticles are sent out, and the body emitting
them does not act as a center Of agitation
| giving rise to vibrations. IT is thus diff
/ terent case from those Of light and heat.
/ The odor is the odorous molecule itself !;
/ whereas light, as perceived, is not the lu-
/ minous body
We cannot tell whether oxygen has
some chemical influence on the particles,
nor what kind of action takes place on
contact Of the particle with the nerve,
/ whether mechanical agitation or a chem.
| ical decomposition. But the distinction
OF the senses into physical sight touch,
and hearing and chemical taste and
| smelD is a Just one. In the latter, con.
tact is always implied.
| An able writer recently tried to prove
a kind of music in odOrs That Is,
/ different odors, according to him, affect
the OlfaCtory nerve in various degrees,
corresponding to those in which sound
affects the auditory nerve. Thus we may
/ have octaves of odors. He enumerates
various substances that produce the same
| impression, but in different degrees for
instance, these four, almond, heIiotrope,
vanilla, and clematis BY combination
he obtains semi od0rs, corresponding to
semitones; for instance, rose with
geranum. He points out principles of
harmony in perfumes corresponding to
those in Colors, and thinks it possible
to produce desired perfume from mix
ture of others
The theory IS ingenious and worthy of
attention, but il is open TO grave obiec-
tions For the harmony in colors and
/ sounds depends on exact numerical re-
lations, which may be accurately de-
termined; whereas, in the case of smell,
the criterion is capricious and uncertain,
and it is not possible to reduce to formula
what our sense reveals.
There are many cases of hallucinatlon
as regards smell united, generally, with
insanity on other points. Lunatics have
been met with who constantly complain
ed of fctid Odor: others reioiced in the
most delicious, though imaginary, per
fumes NJ. LIEUT. tells of patient, in
the Salpc,riere, who was continually
troubled with the smell of dead bodies,
which she thought to have been buried
in the establishment.
Cane]lini mentions the case Of a lady
who could NOT hear the smell of rose,
on5 fointea ono d,p whom a friend came
stances could be given. 1t seems to be
these delusions as to smell are very fire.
oucnt
M. ....,,-..,. 1 I,Ii,,, ~, IS ,l,n en,,ga