Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-10
Can 0dors Travel by Wire?
BY Garrett p. ssrvina.

IAN in receipt OF a curious letter. leading TO inter.
| estng reflections, The writer asks rs II possible
for odors 10 travel telephone Wires9 The
other day was cooking apple butter which has a
rather strong odor After II had been cooking Tor
some time friend called No. and after feH
minutes conversation she said; What are You cook
ing that smells 20 soodT / asked her II she really
could smell It and che said she could. We are all
very much puzzled about 81
The first Impulse n 10 assume that imagination
awakened by some accidental suggestion CONT
dAnce was Al the basis Of the phenomenon Accord
ing 10 eli scientific ghta that seems 20 be the only
explanation And yet science h very frsgmeniary
thing, and Of IL mos extraordinary diseoYefea
have grown out Of observations which we're 81 fist
reeeted as ilusory absurd. Odors and tho scnae
~ smell which enables " n perceive them are vofN
strange phenomena,
II il assumed that odoH due 70 the emanation
Of volatile particles from the subgtanoes that give
rise 10 them But these supposed particles arc 20
minute that they cannot be with microscope
and cannot be felt except by the nerves associated
with the Of smell
"A few centigrams Of musk placed sensitive
scale" says Atlrnsons treatise on perfumes, "can
for years fil large hall with their characteristic
odor without showing appreciable loss OF weight
and snl particles must separate from the musk ana
become evenly dlnused through the air Of the hail
because the odor h pereeptlbe through every past
~ a."
One cannot help wondering whether II may not be
VibfHtDfR TRADITION OF some EUOt inHAthu ~ Fhh~
tie ofnhnation, that affects the nerves o. smell ~
rays Of light affect those Of vision And II that be
the real basis Of odor then relationship with clee-
ficty IL NJ established and the aenAe Of sincl
falls accord with other senses such A. sisb and
hearing. which act through yibratory inquiries There
s 10 reason why amy kind N vibration might not be
Transformed ana reproduced the telephone prin'
clpe.
The idea that odor may be . Wbratory phenomenon
upde fEa NJ hat uarf uf re
surceptbla ~ being arranged harmonic scale.
having the compass Of piano ana that different
scents when treated ~ tones may be combined nto
chords Ike musical sounds. BY mixing aromatic
substances IN accordance with his assumed principle
Of odorferous harmony piesse thought he could dem.
the correctness Of his Views. But II would
que education OF the Of smell 70 enable most
persons 70 perceive harmony 81 that Kind.
Ana yet Just ~ bed ~ flowers affects ~ differ.
entity, seeordlng 20 The arrangement Of ta colors
might not shllfui selection or bossoma with re.
gard TO their several doors produce pleasing. or
pleasing effect upon the sense Of smell?
The fact 10 that the human race IL jus a big in
FAINT. and has not YET half learned The use Or the
powers Of IT, own senses We allow ourselves 10 be
deceived BY those senses al the time We have
doubtadly got senses which almost unrecognized
for intlnations Of their existence come
-as In strange and startling ways, but like babies
shrink away. afraid Of the novelty else stu.
pldly pay attention.
There Ia whole world Of discovery waiting for ~
Columbus IN this very field or doors. We haye hardly
touched ts outskirts We sti IN the stage OF
wonder about IT, Take The effect Of various
scents and perfumes the nerves and through the
nerves upon the brain. Why DO exceedingly
Nayory foods lose their taste " the Of smell ~
obstrueted?
How Do biind persons recognize individuals By their
particular odor? How doee the dog follow special
scent through labyrinth Of other odors7 The fact
that water will wash away trail seems 10 favor
Tho theory that odor Is due 10 an emanatiop Of
teria PARTICLES but perhaps only disslpaes the
datonp. Or turns them away. transparent sub.
stances like glass deylstes rays Of light
Just certain musical sounds awaken in the lis
toner the most profound mental emotions. stir
ring him TO intense activity and luing him into
. dreaming mood giving wings 10 his rna ginston
particular perfumes react upon the mind and bring
their eoads and their visions