CHAP. II.
Of the DURATION and several TERMES of Tasts.
HE next general way of distinguishing Tasts, is by their Duration, and their Terms, or their Motion of Intension and Remission from one Degree to another. For there are many Tasts, which have their Motions analogous to those of Diseases; and by those may be distinguished in the same manner. For as of Diseases, so of Tasts, there are Four Times, as Physicians call them, or Terms of Motion; sc. Principium, Augmentum, Status, & Declinatio.
2. §. For the distinct observing of which, those Bodies which are hard, and so their tastable parts less easily extractable by the Tongue, should be reduced to a fine Powder: otherwise, the true measure of the Principium will be lost. And for the precise measuring of all the Four Termes, it should be done by a Minute-Watch or a Minute-Glass. For so it will appear, that the Variations of each, are divers and remarquable.
3. §. To instance first in those of the Principium. Which I call, That space of time, betwixt the first Contact of the Body to be tasted, and the first manifest Perception of the Taste. For Example, those Bodies which are Acid, or Bitter, as Vinegar or Wormwood, are presently perceiv’d, quatenus Acid or Bitter, upon the first Contact; or have Principium brevissimum. Those Bodies which are Acrid, have their Principium somewhat longer. So the Seed Cases of Clematis peregrina, although they have a vehement Acritude, even in the Tenth Degree; yet is not that Acritude so soon tasted, as the Bitterness of Roses, which is but in the second. But the Principium of Hot Tasts, is generally longer than that of any other. So the Bitterness of the Root of Black-Hellebore, which exceedeth not the second Degree, is yet presently tasted: but the Heat proceeding from the same Root, and which ascendeth to the third Degree, is not perceived at all, till after two full Minutes. And so the Bitterness of Enula, which exceedeth not the 4ᵗʰ Degree, yet is sooner tasted than its Heat, which ascendeth to the 8ᵗʰ.
4. §. Next, in those of the Augment. Which I call, That space, betwixt the first Perception of the Taste, till it be come to the heighth. So the Heat of Galangale, is not only presently perceived, but ariseth to the heighth within half a Minute. But the Heat of the Root of Enula, comes not to the heighth till after a whole Minute. And the Heat of Black-Hellebore, not till after four full Minutes from the first Contact.
5. §. The Status, or space wherein the Taste continues in its heighth, is also divers. So the Heat of the Seed-Case of Helleboraster, comes to its heighth, and begins to decline within half a Minute; that of the Root of Garden-Scurvygrass, not till after a Minute; and that of the Root of Asarum, not till after two full Minutes.
6 §. And Lastly, the Declination, or the space betwixt the first Remission of the Taste, and its total Extinction. For instance, The Leavs of Millefolium, are Bitter in the 4ᵗʰ Degree, and Hot only in the 1ˢᵗ yet the Heat continues for sometime, and the Bitter presently vanishes. Calamus Aromaticus, is Bitter in the 4ᵗʰ Degree, Hot in the 1ˢᵗ, and Aromatick in the 3ᵈ: yet the Bitter quickly vanishes, the Heat continues two Minutes, and the Aromatick seven or eight. The Heat of the Root of Contrayerra, is extended, almost to two Minutes; the Pungency of Jalap, almost to six; the Heat of Garden Scurvygrass, to seven or eight. And even the Bitterness of Wild Cucumer, to near a quarter of an hour. But the Heat of Euphorbium dureth much longer, as also that of Black Hellebore, sc. above half an hour.
7. §. So that the Augmentum, is seldom extended beyond Four or Six Minutes, from the first Contact: but the Declination, sometimes to Thirty, Fourty, or more. Thus far of the Terms of Tast, or the manner of their Intension and Remission.