Will Civilisation Cost Us Our Sense of Smell?

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6889, 20 April 1929, Page 13

Will Civilisation Cost Us Our Sense of Smell?

AN’S sense of smell may be deteriorating because conscious exercise of the nose is taboo, in the opinion of Dr. N. E. McIndoo, of the United

States Bureau of Entomology, who is interested in establishing a science of odours and rescuing from disrepute the “Cinderella of the senses.” Dr. Mclndoo points out that primitive races have been infinitely superior to those of civilised people, and that many savages trail their enemies and hunt their food by the sense of smell alone. Animals are even more alert to odours than savages. For ages the dog’s nose has been considered a paragon among noses. A dog, for instance, can locate truffles, which are a species of fungus that grow underground, by sniffing at the earth close to where they grow. He can find his master by following his footsteps over surprising distances, but he cannot find a truffle at a hundred yards. Some tribes of Queensland hunt by smell alone a species of snake which is regarded with favour. A white explorer, who witnessed such a hunt, put his nose to the ground and was unable to detect the odour which the tribesmen were following with ease. Certain Peruvian Indians are reported to be able to follow a trail by scent as reliably as a hound. Another writer describes experiments, repeatedly conducted, which proved that Negroes and Indians recognise persons in the dark by their odours. The entomologist at this juncture, however, finds it encouraging to note that the civilised nose can be educated and that, even in modern countries, certain persons exist who are very clever at detecting and analysing odours.

Pierre Loti, in '“Madame Chrysantheme,” makes mention of “a strange odour,” mingled with that of lotus and musk, an intimate odour of Japan, of the yellow race, which rises from the soil and emanates from ancient wainsco tings.” Another writer remarks that the different races have characteristic odours; that, while the African native has a disagreeable odour 'to the European, the European is still more offensive to Japanese nostrils. It is said that certain English people have been able to recognise, not only different races, but different persons by smell.

Dr. Mclndoo describes in “Science and Invention” the results of his study of odours and concludes that in civilised man the sense of smell is most highly developed in the blind. He cites the instance of a boy, James Mitchell, born deaf, dumb and blind, who depended chiefly upon this faculty for keeping in touch with the world. He readily observed the presence of a stranger in the room and formed his opinions of persons through this sense alone. Another writer tells of an English acquaintance who declared that to her the odorous atmosphere of a person is as characteristic and unmistakable as the play of the features or the carriage of the figure. 1 It is true that dogs identify people in this manner, and even objects they

have lightly touched. In view of this fact it is not difficult to imagine that a person, in whom the sense is acutely developed, might be able to do the same. The skin constantly exudes the products of body metabolism, the building up and breaking down of countless tiny cells, and these products differ* injeach individual, no two being alike, giving rise to various chemical odours. •

Exploitation of the sense of smell and the classification and advancement of knowledge regarding it would result in the unfolding of a new world of experience and would prove of intense scientific and economic value, Dr. Mclndoo believes. He points out that the senses of sight and hearing already have been the subject of in-

tricate investigation and that their stimuli, light waves and sound waves, have been accurately measured and analysed. Intellectual curiosity regarding the nature of sound has resulted in the telegraph, telephone, microphone and radio; and in light in the microscope, telescope, photographic camera, moving picture machine, the discovery and use of ultraviolet rays and X-rays. “In spite of the fact that, as far as knowledge of the sense of smell is concerned, we are still living in the Dark Ages, information has been gleaned and has been used to great advantage,” Dr. Mclndoo says.

Here are spme instances cited by Dr. Mclndoo:' Characteristic odours are associated with certain diseases, and the physician is using his nose as well as his eyes and ears in diagnosis. Chemists use the olfactory sense as a help in analysis; bacteriologists identify cultures by their odours, and plumbers use their sense of smell in locating leaks in boilers and pipe lines. The procedure in the latter case is to force through the pipes water or air that has been mixed with peppermint oil or wintergreen, then smell at the cracks and joints. Or catnip oil can be used and a kitten be delegated to do the sniffing. Dr. Mclndoo is by no means the only scientist who has advocated research along these lines in the belief that studies would lead to the founding of a new science.

The scientist finds that it is literally true that “our lives are often saved by our noses.” The sense of smell, he explains, alone warns us against certain poisonous gases and manufacturers of illuminating gases, which are odourless, add odorous impurities to them- to decrease the danger of asphyxiation through carelessness. Other gases, not harmful in themselves, warn against dangerous conditions. Coal gas indicates the presence of deadly carbon monoxide, which has no odour, and sewer gas warns against unsanitary conditions which may menace heglth. Next to the perfume industry, perhaps the most important practical application of smell is to be found in economic entomology, the control of insect pests through knowledge of their respective likes and dislikes in regard to odours. But once the odour has been found which allures the insect, the scientist exploits it as a bait, and mighty is the slaughter. This method of practically eradicating certain pests has resulted in saving millions of pounds in crops. (