The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-03-27
THE SKIN
Spicuous PAL

spicuous part.
THE SKIN
From a lecture by DR.. Nicholson, before
the N. 0. Academy of Sciences.
In health the skin is the seat Of various
secretions, which seek the surface of the
body to be eliminated as excrementitious and
deleterious matter from the system. These
secretions are collected in small glandular
organs, which are seated just beneath the
cutiS, or true skin, and are diffused over the
whole surface of the body to an extent that
is truly marvellous. From these glandular
organs innumerable minute tubes, popularity
called "the pores of the skin" convey the
secretions through the epidermis, or outer
scarf skin, to be exuded in sensible or in
sensible perspiration. When nature has de-
stined the pores to perform such an impor-
tant office, it can be readily understood how
essential it is to health that the normal &C
ton of the pores should not be DISTRACTED.
This becomes more clearly apparent when
we consider the minute organism of the skin,
and the wonderful system of pore sewerage
which nature has provided for the healthy
maintenance of human life. To arrive at
something like an estimate of the value Of
the respiratory system, in relation to the
rest of the organism, says DIR. Wilson, |
counted the respiratory pores on the palm of
the hand, and found 3, 1928 in square inch
Now, each of these pores being an aperture
of little tube of about a quarter of an
inch long, it follows that in an inch of skin
on the palm of the hand, there exists length
of tube equal to $50 inches, or 79a feet
Surely such. an amount of drainage as 70
feet in every square inch of skin, assuming
this to be the average for the whole body, is
something wonderful, and the thought natu-
rally intrudes itself: What # this drainage
vere obsrWcted2 Could we need stronger
argument for enforcing the necessity of at
tention to the skin?
While the lungs in twenty-four hours dis
charge fifteen ounces of volatile matter, the
skin discharges thirty ounces, so that two.
thirds of all volatile excretions pass the
skin. An almost equal weight Of water
leaves the body through the kidneys, charged
with matter peculiar to that secretion. We
can thus understand how it is that the sup
preston of skin action becomes a fatal source
of disease.
st is not as an emunctOry or purifier
only that We must regard the skin; its infu
ence and power have wider range of action
in the maintenance of health. Besides COM
pretending vast system of drainage tubes,
which open upon the surface by seven mil
lions of pores, besides, also, wonderful and
perpetual labor by which the skin is draw
ing from the blood certain organic elements
in the fluid state, and converting them into
solid organic formations, which are known
as cells and scales, these cells and scales
being the tesselated mosaic with which the
skin is furnished upon the surface, so as to
render it capable of existence in the exter-
nal world; besides this and much more, the
skin is converted into kind of sponge by
the myriads of blOod-vessels which enter
into its structure-blood-ve that many
times an an hour bring the whole-aye, euegy
drop-of the blood of the body to the sur
face; bring it that it may furnish the mate
rails for the microscopic pavement; that it
may be purified by the abstraction of its
unwholesome principles; that it may breathe
the vital air of the atmosphere Without
besides this, also, the skin near its surface is
one vast network of nerves, mysterious
organs, that belong in their nature to the
unknown sources of the tightening, the cleo
trio currents of the universe. And besides
these, again, there is every variety of animal
tissue and contriyance by which all this ap
paratus is held together and maintained in
the best state and position to insure its safety
and perfection. In truth, the contempla-
ton of the structure and functions of the
skin, when viewed with the eyes of the mind
is almost overwhelming; and the words of
the poet break upon our memory
In human works though labord on with pain;
A thousand movements scarce our purpose gain,
In Gods, one single can Its end produce,
Yet serves to second, too, some other use.'
One word more as to the Importance Of
the skin in the animal economy, and that
word a summary Of its functions and princ-
pal vital attributes. The skin is a sanitary
commissioner draining the system of its i'm
purities it is an energetic laborer, in that
perpetual interchange of elements, which, in
It's essence, constitutes life; it is a regulator
of the density and fuidity of the blood it
performs the Office of lung in supplying
the blood with oxygen, and abstracting its
carbon; it changes the crude organic ele-
ments OF the blood, so as to render them
capable of nutrition; it emulates the heart in
giving speed to the circulating blood; it is
the minister of the brain and spinal marrow
in it's properties of sensation; and it feeds
and nourishes, and keeps in the highest open
condition the part of the nervous system
which is confded to its care.
Viewing the skin in this way, and recognize
ing its just claims to consideration as an i'm
portant animal organ, we are led to the con,
clu8ion that the skin as part Of the diges-
TIE system, like the liver and kidneys, by
virtue of its emunCtOry and nutritive powers;
it as an appendage of the heart, and part
of the system of the circulating of the blood
it is surface lung, breathing organ; and
it partakes of mans intellectual nature
by it's close connection with and dependence
on the brain. In the lower animals the
skin combines in itself alone the feeling, see
ing, smelling, hearing organs. "
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