CHAP. VI.Of the Sense of Feeling[a].
Of the Sense of Feeling[a].
Having spent so much Time upon the other Senses, and therein given such ample Proofs of the infinite Creator’s Wisdom; I shall but briefly take Notice of two Things relating to this last Sense.
One is its Organ, the Nerves. For as all Sensation is performed by the Nerves[b], and indeed the other Senses (performed by Nerves) are a kind of Feeling; so is this Sense ofFeelingperformed by Nerves likewise, spread in the most incomparable, curious Manner throughout the whole Body. But to describe their Origine in the Brain, and Spinal-Marrow, their Ramifications to all the Parts; their Inosculations with one another; and other Matters; whereby not only the Sense ofFeelingis perform’d, but also animal Motion, and an admirable Consent and Harmony of all the Parts of the Body is effected: (To describe, I say, these Things) would take up too much Time, and I have already, and shall, as I go along, give some Hints thereof.
The other Thing I shall take Notice of, is, the Dispersion of this Sense throughout the Body, both without, and within. The other Senses, I have observ’d, are seated in the very best Place for the Relief and Comfort, the Guard and Benefit of the Animal. And forasmuch as it is necessary to the Being, and well-being of the Body, that every Part should be sensible of Things safe, or Things prejudicial to it self; therefore it is an admirable Contrivance of the great Creator, to disperse thisSense ofFeelingthroughout every Part[c]; to distinguish between Pleasure and Pain; Things salutary, and Things hurtful to the Body.
Thus in the five Senses of Animals, we have an Œconomy worthy of the Creator, and manifestly demonstrating his Power, Wisdom and Indulgence. For whether we consider the Mechanism of the Organs, or the great Use and Convenience of each Sense, we find it noble and grand, curious and artificial; and every way worthy of its infinite Maker, and beyond the Wit and Power of any Thing but a GOD: And therefore we must even deny our Senses, by denying them to be God’s handy-work.
And now from those chief Machines of animal Performances and Enjoyments, the five Senses; let us pass to another Thing in common to all the Sensitive Creatures, which is Respiration.
FOOTNOTES:[a]Malpighiis of this Opinion, that asTasteis performed by thePapillæin the Tongue, so isFeelingby such likePapillæunder the Skin. From several Dissections, and other Observations, he thus concludes,Ex his & similibus videbatur animus abundè certior redditus, earundem Papillarum pyramidalium copiam, quas aliàs in Linguâ descripsi, in locis præcipuè acquisitiori Tactui dicatis reperiri, eodem progigni nervoso & cuticulari corpore, simulque circumvolvi reticulari involucro, & extimam cuticulam, veluti ultimum terminum attingere.——Microscopio quilibet in manûs dorso pro sudore orificia quædam miro ordine dispersa intueri potest, circa quæ frequentia quædam capitula assurgunt; hæc verò sunt Papillarum fines, dum à cute assurgentes interpositum superant rete, simulque extimam cuticulam. Hæc repetitis sectionibus deprehendi; ex quibus non improbabiliter deducam, sicuti ex elatioribus——papillis——in Linguâ, Gustûs Organon elicitur,——ita ex copiosâ harum Papillarum congerie——in organis, ubi maximè animalia Tactûs motione afficiuntur,——adæquatum Tactûs organum sufficientèr haberi.Malpig. de extern. Tact. Org.p. 26.Consul. quoque ejusd. Vit.p. 28.These Observations ofMalpighi, our late curious and diligent Mr.Cowperhath confirmed, and given us very elegant Cuts both of the Skin, and thePapillæ, and the Nerves, Glands,&c.under it, from Microscopical Observations.Vid.Cowper’s Anat.Introd. and Tab. 4.[b]Although the Eye be the usual Judge of Colours, yet some have been able to distinguish them by their Feeling.Quidam fuit qui venit ad M. Duc.Hetruriæaulam qui colores per Tactum cognoscebat. Pro experimento velum sericum, uniformiter textum, & pluribus coloribus tinctum, offerebatur, & veracitèr de colore to singulis partibus judicabat.Grimald. de Lum. & Col. prop. 43. §. 59.[c]Tactus autem toto corpore æquabilitèr fusus est, ut omnes ictus, omnesque nimios & frigoris, & caloris appulsus sentire possimus.Cicer.ubi supr.Tactus sensus omnibus est, etiam quibus nullus alius; nam & Ostreis, & terrestribus Vermibus quoque. Existimaverim omnibus sensum & Gustatûs esse. Cur enim alios alia sapores appetunt? in quo vel præcipua Naturæ architectio.Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 71.
[a]Malpighiis of this Opinion, that asTasteis performed by thePapillæin the Tongue, so isFeelingby such likePapillæunder the Skin. From several Dissections, and other Observations, he thus concludes,Ex his & similibus videbatur animus abundè certior redditus, earundem Papillarum pyramidalium copiam, quas aliàs in Linguâ descripsi, in locis præcipuè acquisitiori Tactui dicatis reperiri, eodem progigni nervoso & cuticulari corpore, simulque circumvolvi reticulari involucro, & extimam cuticulam, veluti ultimum terminum attingere.——Microscopio quilibet in manûs dorso pro sudore orificia quædam miro ordine dispersa intueri potest, circa quæ frequentia quædam capitula assurgunt; hæc verò sunt Papillarum fines, dum à cute assurgentes interpositum superant rete, simulque extimam cuticulam. Hæc repetitis sectionibus deprehendi; ex quibus non improbabiliter deducam, sicuti ex elatioribus——papillis——in Linguâ, Gustûs Organon elicitur,——ita ex copiosâ harum Papillarum congerie——in organis, ubi maximè animalia Tactûs motione afficiuntur,——adæquatum Tactûs organum sufficientèr haberi.Malpig. de extern. Tact. Org.p. 26.Consul. quoque ejusd. Vit.p. 28.These Observations ofMalpighi, our late curious and diligent Mr.Cowperhath confirmed, and given us very elegant Cuts both of the Skin, and thePapillæ, and the Nerves, Glands,&c.under it, from Microscopical Observations.Vid.Cowper’s Anat.Introd. and Tab. 4.
[a]Malpighiis of this Opinion, that asTasteis performed by thePapillæin the Tongue, so isFeelingby such likePapillæunder the Skin. From several Dissections, and other Observations, he thus concludes,Ex his & similibus videbatur animus abundè certior redditus, earundem Papillarum pyramidalium copiam, quas aliàs in Linguâ descripsi, in locis præcipuè acquisitiori Tactui dicatis reperiri, eodem progigni nervoso & cuticulari corpore, simulque circumvolvi reticulari involucro, & extimam cuticulam, veluti ultimum terminum attingere.——Microscopio quilibet in manûs dorso pro sudore orificia quædam miro ordine dispersa intueri potest, circa quæ frequentia quædam capitula assurgunt; hæc verò sunt Papillarum fines, dum à cute assurgentes interpositum superant rete, simulque extimam cuticulam. Hæc repetitis sectionibus deprehendi; ex quibus non improbabiliter deducam, sicuti ex elatioribus——papillis——in Linguâ, Gustûs Organon elicitur,——ita ex copiosâ harum Papillarum congerie——in organis, ubi maximè animalia Tactûs motione afficiuntur,——adæquatum Tactûs organum sufficientèr haberi.Malpig. de extern. Tact. Org.p. 26.Consul. quoque ejusd. Vit.p. 28.
These Observations ofMalpighi, our late curious and diligent Mr.Cowperhath confirmed, and given us very elegant Cuts both of the Skin, and thePapillæ, and the Nerves, Glands,&c.under it, from Microscopical Observations.Vid.Cowper’s Anat.Introd. and Tab. 4.
[b]Although the Eye be the usual Judge of Colours, yet some have been able to distinguish them by their Feeling.Quidam fuit qui venit ad M. Duc.Hetruriæaulam qui colores per Tactum cognoscebat. Pro experimento velum sericum, uniformiter textum, & pluribus coloribus tinctum, offerebatur, & veracitèr de colore to singulis partibus judicabat.Grimald. de Lum. & Col. prop. 43. §. 59.
[b]Although the Eye be the usual Judge of Colours, yet some have been able to distinguish them by their Feeling.Quidam fuit qui venit ad M. Duc.Hetruriæaulam qui colores per Tactum cognoscebat. Pro experimento velum sericum, uniformiter textum, & pluribus coloribus tinctum, offerebatur, & veracitèr de colore to singulis partibus judicabat.Grimald. de Lum. & Col. prop. 43. §. 59.
[c]Tactus autem toto corpore æquabilitèr fusus est, ut omnes ictus, omnesque nimios & frigoris, & caloris appulsus sentire possimus.Cicer.ubi supr.Tactus sensus omnibus est, etiam quibus nullus alius; nam & Ostreis, & terrestribus Vermibus quoque. Existimaverim omnibus sensum & Gustatûs esse. Cur enim alios alia sapores appetunt? in quo vel præcipua Naturæ architectio.Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 71.
[c]Tactus autem toto corpore æquabilitèr fusus est, ut omnes ictus, omnesque nimios & frigoris, & caloris appulsus sentire possimus.Cicer.ubi supr.
Tactus sensus omnibus est, etiam quibus nullus alius; nam & Ostreis, & terrestribus Vermibus quoque. Existimaverim omnibus sensum & Gustatûs esse. Cur enim alios alia sapores appetunt? in quo vel præcipua Naturæ architectio.Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 10. c. 71.