The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-10-09
Decisions of the Senses.

1t is surprising, says writer, how
people will differ in their opinions about
apparently very simple matters, as, for
instance, the temperature. "What an
awful hot day" says Jones, wiping the
perspiration from his brow. "So," says
Smith, calmly, "why think it is quite
| comforta Die" The last has been taking
| things quietly, and has not heated up his
system; the other has been taking violent
exercise or drinking stimulants. Or,
sometimes The difference of opinion may
be traced to the different states of health
of the two individuals In either or any
| contingency of the kind it is clearly
demonstrated that the senses are very
untrustworthv, and that when we at
tempt to measure heat the thermometer
is tenfold more reliable than the human
body. Every reader must have observed
that diversity of opinions always exist in
society as to the state of the weather.
"For heavens sake, shut the window, or
shall freeze to DEATH" said the lady
from Kentucky in the passenger car
"For mercy's sake. leave it open, or I
shall smother" said the lady from
Michigan. "For humanity's sake"
cried crusty male passenger, Meave it
open until the lady from Kentucky
freezes to death, and then shu. it, until
the Michigan lady smothers to death !"
That verdict may have been little Sc
we're, but it illustrates the irrepressible
conflict that always exists between in
dependent sets of sensatory nerves. Even
III the same individual do we find like
conflict Of testimony when the right
hand IS held in warm water, the other in
cold, for few moments, and then both
hands plunged into a basin of tepid
water, the two hands will give different
reports, as if obeying the scriptural in
junction of not letting the right hand
know what the left hand doeth. To the
right the fluid is cold to the left it will
feel warm, though it is really the same
to both. The same discrepancy Of evi
dence is found to exist in reference
to the character Of sound vision and
smell which exists with reference to
the sense of touch. Railway employers
have found it essential to test the visual
powers OF train men to see whether they
can readily discern the var-colored sig
nails A small percentage Of men are
found to be afflicted with ''color-blind-
ness, and are unable to distinguish GER
tain colors at distances that vary in diff
ferent individuals The sense of hear
ing varies in individuals, and all the
senses are more or less liable to varia-
ton, according to the health and organic
structure of the individual The unre-
liability of the senses as an accurate
gauge of any state or condition of phv-
sizes led scientists long ago to discard
that kind OF evidence wherever anything
better could be obtained. The glass of
clear, sparkling water, that to eye and
taste and smell bears evidence Of having
been distilled from heavens purest yes,
ervors, is detected in the chemist la
boratory to be very magazine of
disease and peStilence. The air we
breathe, the water we drink. the
food we eat, all deceive the senses,
and that which we often pronounce pure
and healthful contains the germs of
death. These facts do not prove the
inutility of the senses with which
nature has endowed US. 1t is rich
and an indispensable inheritance, but it
teaches US the important lesson that as
we are not perfect in our physical or
ganizatlon, we are also not perfect and
cannot be perfect in our mental powers
1t is a lesson of humility, and teaches
us to be lenient in our judgment toward
Others and quite suspicious of con
illusions based upon sensatory evidence
alone. - Cincinnati Saturday Night