The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-30
Tho Sense or Smell,

An Old author speaks of monk at
Prague, who, when anything was given
HIM, distinguished by smelling, it's quail
ties, and to whom 1t belonged, with as
much certainty as the best-nosed dog.
There Is also on record an individual who
could distinguish his own watch, from
smelling, from that of other individuals.
and could very readily detect with which
hand any person opened the door of n
room, by the smell left on it by the brass
handle. 1t was said Of the above monk.
that he could accurately distinguish, by
this means, the virtuous from the vicious.
and particularly the unchaste. lie was
much devoted to the study of natural phil
osophy; and among other things he had
undertaken to instruct mankind, with pre-
cepts, on the sense of smelling, like those
we have on optics and acoustics, by dis
trlbutlng, into certain classes, great num-
Der of smells, to all of which he had given
names; but an untlmely death cut him off
IN tho n.idst of these curious researches.
Inc guides who accompany travellers III
the route from Smyrna or Aleppo to Baby
Ion have no signs in the midst of tho de-
serts to know tho places they arc in; vet
they distinguish with certainty; even at
midnight at what distance they are from
Babylon, by only smelling tho sand. Per-
haps they judge of the distance by the odor
cxhaled hy the small plants or roots inter
mixed with the sand. Physicians, IN Wis
lung the sick, even before they have seen
them, frequently form opinions from Ger
tam prognostios, such rs the cadavorous
smell that often betrays itself on entering
the chambers of the afflicted.
1t has long been supposed that dogs can
~ utn
they do by long continuous lowliny. An
anonymous author says, Gin this respect.
dogs are more sagacious than men, benz
attracted by the smell of death, and often
seeming, before the patient has expired. TO
demand their prey by continued no wliny,
~ lady OF my acquaintance had a favoritc
monkey, and the mjnkcy, In return for
the kindness Of his mistress, was 80 de-
Votcdly attached to her. that he would
scarcely ever be induced to leave her. But
his nice smell in discovering the approach
OF contagious distempcrs was remarkable.
Inc measles became epidemical in the
country; the lady fell sick of them; and
what is very remarkable, she was aban-
doncd by her favorilc monkey some DAYS
before there was any indication of
her approaching illness. From all the cir
cumstanccs, there could be but little
doubt but he had foreknowledge of this
event by smell. No sooner, however, did
she recover, than the monkey returned
with the same fondness and familiarity
which he used to manifest to wards htA be-
fore her malady. Some time afterNards
this lady had sight fever, but without
any appearance Of malignity, and, eyahat IL
curious the monkey continued witt her as
a constant companion. The plesHuro Which
different individuals experience from vari
GUS odors often depends On an scquircd taste;
and we find this in greatcJ or lesser de-
gree national. The Turks. Persians, aud
Arablans delight in the eflluvia of opium,
which to European taste is most disgust.
ing. The natives of continental Eul'ope.
whether malc or female, have long had
fondncss for tobacco smoke, which, com
parativcly speaking, Is little rellshed here
ny either sex. Some persons arc delight
cd with the smell Of rose, while others
cannot endure lC. An instance Is recorded
OF person who tainted whenever subject
cd to tho smell of celery, and another who
took headache whenever she sat near
pineapple at table. Some savage nations
experience high qualification Mt the smell
OF assaimllda, which Europeans consider
thc most nauscnus smell in nature.