The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-02
THE HUMAN TONGUE.
What Modern Science Teaches Us Abou
This ORGAN.

What Modern Science Teaches Us About
This Organ.
DR.. William Fitch Cheney read witty
and Instructive paper on 1.-THE Tongue" at
the Cooper Medical College last night. He
is very bright young physician with very
scant consideration for medical traditions
and none whatever for medical supersti-
lions. He first startled his audience upon
his introduction by saying, LET me see
your tongue" He repeated the request,
but only evoked laughter. Then he ex-
planned that this procedure was a relic of
antiquity. From a medical standpoint to-
day the tongue was not of as much impOr-
lance as 1t once was in determining the
condition of a patient. He excited some
more merriment wien he described the diff
ferent ways people had of showing their
tongues to the doctors.
DIR. Cheney said that as rule people at
tached too much i'm ortanca to the fact
that the tongue was coated. His advice
was for them either to scrape it or to wash
IT, Another popular deluslon was that the
color OF the coating had any significance or
Indicated trouble with the liver. Breath ing
through the mouth or smoking dried up the
saliva and then the tongue accumulated its
coating. A feyerish condition did this Also.
The coloriDg was either impaired by chem
zeal change In the white saliva or by food
or drink which had passed through the
mouth.
In very interesting manner the doctor
next explained the operation of the tongue
IN the reception and preparation of food
Tor the stomach. Its business, lie said, was
to mOiSten it and push it into position to
be ground between the upper and neither
millstones-the teeth. The saliva never be-
came properly mixed and stirred with
out the aid Of the tongue. This
organ was not called beautiful, but an ex-
animation Of its structure compelled admit
Inn oil FIR If a
not follow the law of the other muscles in
growing by use. 1t varies more in its degree
OF mobility than Ii does in size. Children
who were tongue tied had only bride
which bad TO be cut to relieve them. But
everyb body had such a bride more or less
developed. The sense of touch was acutest
at the tip Of the tongue. and the sense Of
taste acutest at the base. The under sur
face could not detect the difference between
salt and pepper or between syrup and vine
gar. No substance. however. had any taste
so long as II remained solid. Whatever
makes the mouth dry takes away the taste,
as IN fevers We find food is tasteless. An
other condition to taste is that the nose
must be In condition to appreciate OdOrS.
Tea. coffee and wine owe a great deal of
their taste to the nose. Hold the nose by
the fingers and the difference in taste be-
tween apples and onions is not perceptible.
The tongue. DIR. Cheney said, had very
little to do with speech, notwithstanding all
point. Men had been able to talk intelli-
gibly after the removal OF the mole tongue.
This was considered a miracle In the mid
die ages, but 1t IS no longer considered in
that light. The tongue had nothing to do
with the voice, though voice itself was not
speech. The lips, palate and throat were
the principal vocal organs. With the tongue
gone the labials ID. 4 and /. could not be
sounded, but these were not essential. The
tongue plays its part in the utterance of
words, but it is by no means an indispen-
sable factor. That animals have tongues
proves 1t is not the organ Of speech. These,
however, may have a speech of their own.
In conclusion. DR.. Cheney said: "But the
tongue does render assistance in the act of
talking; 1t has very important part to play
in the process OF digestion, ana it gives the
sense Of taste. 1t still remains worthy,
therefore, of all honor as one of the faithful
servants If our body, doing we'll the duty
that is assigned to 1t. And so we should he
ever grateful for its possession. and should
over have its praise at our tongues end"