Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-09-13
F Or tn T e lie graph.

PHYSIOLOGICAL REFORM.-No. 3.
The skin is composed of three coats, viz.
the cuticle, reta mucosum and CUTS uera.-l
The cuticle is the outer coat; it is that which |
is raised in blisters. 1t is Of transparent
texture, and is exceedingly porous; so much
so that not less than two or three millions OF
the pores would be covered by laying a cent
on the skin. These pores are of east I'm
POrtdnce. The Creator has not constructed
the skin unnecessarily nice. The reta mu-
cosunl or middle coat is layer of soft mu-
cous. This contains the coloring matter and
gives the complexion ;-being black in the
negro, copper colored in the Indian, white in
white people &c. The CUTS uera or true
skin is The inermost, and is apparently, en-
tirely composed Of nerves, blood vessels, alb
sorbents &c. The point OF the finest need
lie cannot be thrust through the shin without
puncturiDg both nerves and blood vessels
The skin thus formed covers the surface Of
the body, and one exactly analogous to il
lines all the internal passages, and is called
the mucous membrane. 1t lines the nostrils,
mouth, stomach and intes,ines. The Offices
of the skin including the mucous membrane,
are very extensive and Important. | can
mention but few Of its numerous uses
All that we receive which goes as nourish.
ment to the body passes twice through it, frs
through the internal, next through the ex
ternal skin in the form ofsweat. This swea
or Precipitation is constantly passing iron
every part Of the surface of the body. Flo
proof hold brightly polished mirror close Il
: The surface and il will instantly become be
dewed. II is thus constantly throwing OF
the refuse part of the blood and other fluids
1t furnishes US with the sense of feeling. |
serves also as a regulator Of the temperatur
; of the body to some extent. It's also an agen
, of absorption. The whole body is in stat
of constant decay and renovation and Will
the stomach takes in nu,ritive substance:
J the skin forms one Of the principle outlets b
I Which the refuse matter is thrown eff
Many experiments have been made to ascel
tain The amount thus carried off. Sanctoriu:
an Italian Psychologist, made careful AID ac
curaie experiments upon himself, by weigh
ing himself, his food, his excreIions &c., i
: nice balance, every day for 80 years. II
S found that fire out Of every eight pounds {
: substance taken into the system, passed OF
: of il again through the skin. Layoisier an
# Seguin afterward made their celebrated e.
e. periments. They ascerlained that the az
erage amount thrown off, by those on Whor
they experimental was thirty-three ounce
: lin "a hours. Men must eat and drink bs
: yond the bounds oftemperance to perspire
: this amount. At any rate we fnd that th
:, skin does, or ought to give passage to lsrg
n amount of waste matter; so that those liltl
), holes or pores, so numerous, are very imPol
a lant; and what If they are suffered to GO
: closed part of the time? dangerous conse
/ lquences will follow. Now the sweat as
g dries on the surface, leaves large amour
of sediment this obstructs the pores an
arrangement of function begins. 1.-THE ski
:. refuses to perform its labor some other orga
must assist il. The sympathy between ii
= skin and mucous membrane is SO intimal