I HAVE formerly published some Notes, concerning Tasts. Idea, §. 29. & Anat. of R. P. 2. §. 68, &c. Since then, I have made other Observations upon the same Subject: and these have produced further Thoughts. I will summ up all in giveing an account, First, of the Diversities; and then, of the Causes of Tasts, chiefly in Plants.
2. §. The Diversities of Tasts are so many, and so considerable; that it seemeth strange, to see the matter treated of both by Philosophers and Physicians, with so much scantness and defect. For the Subject is not barren, but yieldeth much and pleasant Variety. And doth also appear to be of great import unto Medicine. Besides, it is preposterous to discourse of the Causes of Tasts, before we have taken an account of their Diversities; Whereof therefore I shall in the first place, exhibit the following Scheme.
3. §. TASTS may be distinguished by these Three general ways. First, with respect to the Sensation it self. Secondly, with respect to its Duration and Terms. Thirdly, with respect to its Subject.
4. §. The Sensation it self is differenced two ways, by its Species, and by its Degrees. With respect to the Species, Tasts are Simple, or Compounded. By Simple Tasts, I mean not such, as are never found in conjunction with other Tasts: but the Simple or Single Modes of Tast, although they are mixed with divers others in the same Body. As for example, the Taste of a Peppin, is Acidulcis; of Rhubarb, Amarastringens; and therefore Compounded in both. Yet in the Peppin, the Acid is one Simple Taste, and the Sweet another; and so in Rhubarb, the Bitter is one Simple Taste, and the Astringent is another.
5. §. Two faults have here been committed; the defective Enumeration of Simple Tasts; and reckoning them indistinctly among some others which are Compounded.
6. §. SIMPLE Tasts, (of which, properly so called, there are commonly reckoned but Six or Seven Sorts,) are, at least Sixteen. First, Bitter, as in Wormwood: to which, the contrary is Sweet, as in Sugar. Thirdly, Sower, as in Vinegar: to which, the contrary is Salt. Fifthly, Hot, as in Cloves: whereto, the contrary is Cold. For we may as properly say, a Cold Taste, as a Hot Taste: there being some Bodies, which do manifestly impress the Sense of Cold upon the Tongue, though not by Touch. So doth Sal Prunellæ, although the Liquor wherein it is dissolved, be first warmed.
7. §. Seventhly, Aromatick. For it doth not more properly agree to an Odor than a Taste, to be Aromatick. And that an Aromatick Taste, is distinct from an Hot, is clear; In that, there are many Bodies of a Hot Taste, some meanly and others vehemently Hot; which yet are not in the least Aromatick: as amongst others, is apparent in Euphorbium. So that although an Aromatick Taste be often conjoyned with Heat; yet it is not that Heat it self, but another distinct Sense.
8. §. Eighthly, Nauseous or Malignant, contrary to the former. Such as is perceived, together with the Astringent and Bitter, in Rhubarb; or with the Bitter, and Sweet, in Aloes. It may be called Malignant, because distastful although mixed in a low degree with other Tasts: whereas other Tasts will render one another grateful.
9. §. Again, Tasts may properly be said, to be Soft or Hard. A Soft Taste, is either Vapid, as in Watery Bodies, Whites of Eggs, Starch, Fine Boles, &c. Or Unctuous, as in Oyls, Fat, &c.
10. §. A Hard Taste is Fourfold, sc. Penetrant, Stupifacient, Astringent, Pungent. Contrary to a Vapid, are Penetrant and Stupifacient.
11. §. Penetrant, is a kind of Taste, which worketh it self into the Tongue (as some Insects into the Skin) without any Pungency; as in the Root and Leavs of Wild Cucumer.
12. §. Stupifacient, as in the Root of Black Hellebore. Which being chew’d, and for sometime reteined upon the Tongue; after a few minutes, it seemeth to be benum’d and affected with a kind of Paralytick Stupor; or as when it hath been a little burnt with eating or supping of any thing too hot.
13. §. Contrary to an Unctuous Taste, are Astringent, and Pungent; as in Galls, and Spirit of Sal Armoniack.
14. §. Again, Tasts are either Continual, as most commonly: or Intermittent; as that of Dracontium, especially in the Root. For after it seems to be lost and extinguished; it will then again (chiefly upon the Collision of the Tongue and Goomes) be plainly heightened and reviv’d.
15. §. Lastly, Tasts are either Still, as usually; or may be called Tremulous, as the Heat produced by Pyrethrum. Distinct from that of Cloves, Ginger, and many other Hot Bodies, in that there the Heat is still; but here in Pyrethrum, ’tis joyned with a kind of Vibration: as when a Flame is brandished with a Lamp-Furnace. Thus far of the Sorts of Simple Tasts.
16. §. COMPOUNDED Tasts are very numerous; being made by the various Conjunction of Simple Tasts, as Words are of Letters. Sometimes of two, as in Saccharum Saturni, of Astringent and Sweet. Sometimes three, as in Aloes, Malignant, Bitter and Sweet; in Rhubarb, Malignant, Astringent and Bitter. Sometimes four, as in Agarick, Malignant, Astringent, Bitter and Sweet. And in some Bodies, five or six Species may be joyned together.
17. §. For the more accurate Observation whereof, there are these easie Rules. That not too many be tasted at one time: least the Tongue being surcharged, become less critical. That the Mouth be washed with warm water betwixt every tasting. And that those things be first tasted which produce a less durable Taste; that so one may be throughly extinguished, before another be try’d.
18. §. Of the numerous Conjunctions of Tasts, which may thus be observed, there are only Six to which the penury of Language hath allowed (if I may call them) Proper Names, sc. Acerbus, Austerus, Acris, Muriaticus, Lixivus & Nitrosus. Most of which are commonly taken in to make up the number of Simple Tasts. But very improperly; being all of them Compounded and Decompounded Tasts: to which Class they ought therefore to be refer’d. For
19. §. Austere, is Astringent and Bitter; as in the green and soft Stones of Grapes.
20. §. Acerb, properly so called, is Astringent and Acid; as in the Juyce of unripe Grapes.
21. §. Acris, is also Compounded. For first, simply Hot, it is not: because there are many Hot Bodies, which are not Acria; as the Roots of Zedoary, Yarrow, Contrayerva. Nor Secondly, is it simply Pungent, because there are also Bodies, which are Non-acria pungentia; of which kind is the Root of Arum. Wherefore Acritude, is Pungency joyned with Heat.
22. §. Muriatick, is Saltness joyned with some Pungency, as in common Salt.
23. §. Lixivial, is Saltness joyned with Pungency and Heat.
24. §. Nitrous, is Saltness joyned with Pungency and Cold.
25. §. Besides these Six, or perhaps one or two more, there are, as is said, a great number of Conjunctions, for which we have no Proper Names. For admit that there were but Ten Species of Simple Tasts, sc. these Ten; Amarus, Dulcis, Acidus, Salsus, Calidus, Frigidus, Aromaticus, Malignus, Astringens, Pungens. And of these Ten, but Two, or at most, but Three to be compounded together in any one Body. If only Two, they produce 45 Compounded Tasts. For the First, may be compounded with all the 9 following; the Second, with all the 8 following; and so, the rest: which together make 45. But if the same Ten be compounded by Threes together; they produce no less than 120 Variations: as by the Table made of them all doth plainly appear.
26. §. Some few of the Conjunctions therein set down, may not be found actually existent in Nature. The abatement of which, will be much more than compensated two ways. First, by the other Six Species of Simple Tasts, which are also sometimes compounded. And by other more complex Conjunctions, as of many Quadruples, and perhaps some Quintuple or Sextuple ones. Thus far of the Simple Species, and Conjunctions of Tasts.
27. §. THE DEGREES of Tasts are also numerous; and each Species, in every Conjunction, capable of Variation herein. For the more accurate observing whereof, it will be best, To take those Bodies, whose Tasts are, as near as may be, the same in Specie: and that those be first tasted, which are less strong; whereby the true Degree will be more precisely taken.
28. §. The Tasts of Bodies will thus appear to be varied, in most Species unto Five Degrees; and in some of them, unto Ten. So the Root of Turmerick, is bitter in the First Degree; of Gentian, in the Tenth. The Root of Carduus Benedictus, is Hot in the First Degree; the Green Pods or Seed-Cases of Clematis peregrina, in the Tenth. So that, allowing some to vary under Five; yet by a moderate estimate, we may reckon every Species, one with another, to be varied by at least Five Degrees. Which being added to the several Species of Tasts, in all the Treble Conjunctions of the aforesaid Table, come to 1800 sensible and defineable Variations of Taste. And these are the Diversities of Taste, with respect to the Sensation it self.