In the case of the mentally deranged taste hallucinations are usually disagreeable, and they are often rationalized into a fabric of delusions,—foul gases are said to be blown upon them, poisons are being placed in their food. Such patients behave in realistic manner, making various defensive reactions, such as stuffing the nostrils with paper or cloth, spitting, and refusing food. In some cases these hallucinations of the insane obviously originate from local inflammation in the peripheral tissues, or from glandular disturbances, and, hence, do not in themselves constitute important pathological symptoms. In some cases, however, such hallucinations arise quite independently of such acute local conditions of irritation, as in chronic psychic disorders or dementias. Under such circumstances they have greater significance, as they point to more deep-seated mental and nervous disturbance. Just as in normal life taste and smell are very closely associated with each other, so, in these cases of insane hallucinations, disorders of taste sensation are likely to involve olfactory irregularities as well. _Synæsthesias of Taste_ An interesting though apparently somewhat rare phenomenon in the field of sensation is what is known as “synæsthesia.” By this is meant cases in which a given sense quality arouses, or is intimately associated with, qualities belonging to other sensory modes. Thus, in the case of vision and hearing, some individuals perceive the different vowel sounds, or the sound of musical instruments, as having color. One such person reports that to him all the consonant sounds seem to be very dark purple, while among the vowel sounds “a” seems yellow, “e” is pale emerald, and “u” is light dove color. Taste, far from being an exception in this case, is one of the senses in connection with which “synæsthesias” must often occur. Salt, for instance, is described by one observer as dull red, bitter as brownish, sweet as clear bright red, and sour as green or greenish-blue. To another observer the taste of meats seems red or brown, the taste of Graham bread is rich red in color, while all ice creams (except chocolate and coffee) taste blue. To still another reporter the sound of the word “intelligence” tastes like fresh sliced tomatoes, while the sound of the word “interest” tastes like stewed tomatoes. There has been much speculation as to the probable meaning and mechanism of these synæsthetic experiences. Investigation seems to show that the particular combinations are by no means universal, even among those who report such observations,—they seem to be individual and personal in their nature and presumably in their origin.