preference.

Hitherto we have only considered external appearances; we must now notice
its functional and other properties.

With some persons, the nose is a sort of barometer,--a certain state of the
atmosphere is invariably announced to them by an agreeable sensation of
coldness at the tip.

Zimmerman used to draw conclusions, as to a man's temperament, from his
_nose!_ Not indeed from its size or form, but from the peculiar sensibility
of the organ.

Cardan considered acuteness of smell as a proof of penetrating genius, and
a lively imagination.

Haller could distinguish perspiration at ten yards' distance.

There have been instances on record of blind people who were able to
discover colours by the touch; and deaf and dumb, who could feel sounds by
placing their hand upon the speaker's mouth: this, however, is not more
astonishing, than that the sense of smelling should be so acute, as to
enable some persons to judge by it the quality of metals. Martial mentions
a person, named Mamurra, who consulted only his nose, to ascertain whether
the copper that was brought him were true Corinthian. There have been
Indian merchants who, if a piece of money were given them, by applying
their nose to it, defined its quality to a nicety, without touchstone,
balance, or aqua-fortis. Europeans, also, are to be found whose sense of
smelling is equally delicate and perfect.