Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural PhilosophyNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural Philosophy
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of, 1592-1676; Philosophy
copy lasts, the Dog perceives the sent, but if he doth not follow or
hunt readily, then there is either no perfect copy made by the ground,
or otherwise he cannot find it, which causes him to seek and smell
about until he hath it; and thus smell is not made by the motion of the
air, but by the figuring motions in the nose: Where it is also to be
observed, that not onely the motions in one, but in millions of noses,
may pattern out one little object at one time, and therefore it is not,
that the object of sent fills a room by sending out the sent from its
substance, but that so many figures are made of that object of sent
by so many several sensitive motions, which pattern the same out; and
so the air, or ground, or any other creature, whose sensitive motions
pattern out the object of sent, may perceive the same, although their
sensitive organs are not like to those of animal Creatures; for if
there be but such sensitive motions and perceptions, it is no matter
for such organs. Lastly, it is to be observed, That all Creatures
have not the same strength of smelling, but some smell stronger, some
weaker, according to the disposition of their sensitive motions: Also
there be other parts in the body, which pattern out the object of
sent, besides the nose, but those are interior parts, and take their
patterns from the nose as the organ properly designed for it; neither
is their resentment the same, because their motions are not alike, for
the stomack may perceive and pattern out a sent with aversion, when the
nose may pattern it out with pleasure. And thus much also of Sent; I
conclude and rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend,_
_and Servant._
[1] _Ch._ 29. _art._ 12.
XXIX.
_MADAM,_
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