7rcTIX1xP

The Sixth Lesson: Cultivation of Perception.579
greatly with different individuals, some having a very fine sense of touch in
their fingers, while others manifested a very much lower degree.
In the same way, there is a great difference in the response of the fingers
to weight—a great difference in the ability to distinguish the difference of
the weight of objects. It has been found that some people can distinguish
differences in weight down to very small fractions of an ounce. Fine
distinctions in the differences in temperature have also been noticed.
The sense of touch, and its development has meant much for Man. It is the
one sense in which Man surpasses the animals in the matter of degree and
acuteness. The animal may have a keener smell, taste, hearing and sight, but
its sense of Touch is far beneath that of Man. Anaxagoras is quoted as saying
that “if the animals had hands and fingers, they would be like men.”
In developing the sense of Touch, the student must remember that
Attention is the key to success. The greater the amount of Attention the
greater the degree of development possible in the case of any sense. When
the Attention is concentrated upon any particular sense, the latter becomes
quickened and more acute, and repeated exercise, under the stimulus of
Attention, will work wonders in the case of any particular sense. And on the
other hand, the sense of touch may be almost, or completely inhibited, by
firmly fixing the Attention upon something else. As an extreme proof of this
latter fact, the student is asked to remember the fact that men have been
known to suffer excruciating torture, apparently without feeling, owing to
the mind being intently riveted upon some idea or thought. As Wyld has
said, “The martyr borne above sensuous impressions, is not only able to
endure tortures, but is able to endure and quench them. The pinching and
cutting of the flesh only added energy to the death song of the American
Indian, and even the slave under the lash is sustained by the indignant sense
of his wrongs.”
In the cases of persons engaged in occupations requiring a fine degree
of Touch, the development is marvelous. The engraver passes his hand
over the plate, and is able to distinguish the slightest imperfection. And