Page:Aristotelous peri psuxes.djvu/296

286 Taste is affected by the same substance, as sugar for instance, in different persons, and even, at times, in the same person.

Note 5, p. 116. Kinds of savour are like shades of colour, &c.] There must ever be difficulty in fixing upon terms for savours or other sentient qualities, and still greater difficulty in settling what are the exact equivalents for such terms in another, and that not a cognate tongue; for although some savours, as bitter and sweet, may be supposed to have an universal acceptation, there are others which, being far less definite, are subject to variation, according to climate and race. So that, with the exception of bitter and sweet, it can hardly be pretended that the other terms, as oily, pungent, rough, astringent, &c., are perfect representatives of those in the text.

Note 6, p. 116. In fine the sapid sense, &c.] This passage does but repeat what has been already insisted upon, that the sense, in potentiality, that is, when inactive, is identical with that which is to act upon it; but that, having been acted upon, it is brought into the state of reality, and then becomes perceptive of the qualities of the excitant.