It is the genuinely stimulant qualities of odorous substances which led to the widespread use of the more potent among them by ancient physicians, and has led a few modern physicians to employ them still.  Thus, vanilla, according to Eloy, deserves to be much more frequently used therapeutically than it is, on account of its excitomotor properties; he states that its qualities as an excitant of sexual desire have long been recognized and that Fonssagrives used to prescribe it for sexual frigidity.[29]

FOOTNOTES: 

[26] The opinions of psychologists concerning the aesthetic significance of smell, not on the whole very favorable, are brought together and discussed by J.V.  Volkelt, “Der AEsthetische Wert der niederen Sinne,” Zeitschrift fuer Psychologie und Physiologie der Sinnesorgane, 1902, ht. 3.

[27] T.E.  Shields, “The Effect of Odors, etc., upon the Blood-flow,” Journal of Experimental Medicine, vol. i, November, 1896.  In France, O. Henry and Tardif have made somewhat similar experiments on respiration and circulation.  See the latter’s Les Odeurs et les Parfums, Chapter III.

[28] Fere, Sensation et Mouvement, Chapter VI; ib., Comptes Rendus de la Societe de Biologie, November 3, December 15 and 22, 1900.

[29] Eloy, art.  “Vanille,” Dictionnaire Encyclopedique des Sciences Medicales.

III.

The Specific Body Odors of Various Peoples—­The Negro, etc.—­The European—­The Ability to Distinguish Individuals by Smell—­The Odor of Sanctity—­The Odor of Death—­The Odors of Different Parts of the Body—­The Appearance of Specific Odors at Puberty—­The Odors of Sexual Excitement—­The Odors of Menstruation—­Body Odors as a Secondary Sexual Character—­The Custom of Salutation by Smell—­The Kiss—­Sexual Selection by Smell—­The Alleged Association between Size of Nose and Sexual Vigor—­The Probably Intimate Relationship between the Olfactory and Genital Spheres—­Reflex Influences from the Nose—­Reflex Influences from the Genital Sphere—­Olfactory Hallucinations in Insanity as Related to Sexual States—­The Olfactive Type—­The Sense of Smell in Neurasthenic and Allied States—­In Certain Poets and Novelists—­Olfactory Fetichism—­The Part Played by Olfaction in Normal Sexual Attraction—­In the East, etc.—­In Modern Europe—­The Odor of the Armpit and its Variations—­As a Sexual and General Stimulant—­Body Odors in Civilization Tend to Cause Sexual Antipathy unless some Degree of Tumescence is Already Present—­The Question whether Men or Women are more Liable to Feel Olfactory Influences—­Women Usually more Attentive to Odors—­The Special Interest in Odors Felt by Sexual Inverts.