The National tribune., 1883-11-15
LOYAL W0MBN'S WORK
The Care Of the BOdy---Eyperience
Meeting---Relief Corps Work.

MeetiRg---Relief Corps Work.
tConduciod By Kate D. SAernood1
From the numerous inquiries that reach US, il
is evident that there is Il demand for series of
simple pi ysioIogic and hygienic papers, treating
of the various functions Of the body that bear an
important part in the animal economy, and OF
the diseases TO which they are subject and the
common remedies To be applied. As the most
important inquiry before Us relates 10 a COM
mon glanduiar affection Of the skin, the Thought
suggests itself that the answer may be supple
mentcd by few general remarks upon the
character and functions of this external cover
ing OF the human body. Two or three papers
viii then be given TO a consideration of some
of the pronounced forms of skin disease and
their ordinary treatment, pointing out the
causes that produce the same and some OF the
means Tor their removal Alter that VIII De
taken up in turn the nerves, muscles, &c, ac-
coriing as the drift of the discussion may sug-
sest As these papers viii be IN the nature of
frcside chat. rather than technical disserta-
fions inquiries and comments are solicited, as
they appear from week 10 week.
II is always easy to say something when one
has something 70 say. But how can one have
something 70 say unless somebody has somet hing
they want some one 10 say something aDontg
SO. dear friends Of THE TRIBUNE If you have
something on your mind which you want some
body 10 help YOU TO understand please lay that
something into the thinking cap OF the editor.
What the editor does not know somebody else
does know aud that somebody viii be forth
coming when the time comes. SO wake up.
or you may get your corns stepped on when
the collection goes on. And we would not be
surprised il we reach the cOrBs very early, now
that We have begun 10 discourse Of the SKIN and
its diseases.
WANTS REMEDY.
ST. LoUIs, October .. Iss3
To the Editor NATIONAL TEIrUxE:
Railways read the columns Of THE TRIBUNE with
fgt interest and as they seem to be open te al for
Information Z would like 10 ask a few questions.
WEI you some of your esteemed correspondents
give me a recipe for face worms. lave long been
troHbles with these most atsrslyatluS things, AID
cont Eieow what 10 use az lIilst them 10 nave
them disiigares she fSirest lace; 10 remove them
Us force aeayes ugly holes. do not ask informa-
tio Tor myself aioe. tsut Tor huidrt.s OF others "a
your far readers who would hal with delight
reiisedy- Yours, sincerely, WI.
FUNCTIONS OF THE SKIN.
First let US understand ourselves. Examine
the animal, man. anatomically, and we find
an external covering 10 the body, known as the
skin which protects the internal parts from
external violence. 1t IS extremely elastic and
readily aaapts itself TO the various movements
excrctorE and absorbing surfaee-and also acts
as the organ Of touch. Like the shell-bark
hickory. il has an inner and an outer surface,
or the scarf skin and true skin
The external or scarf skin described as the
epidermis or cuticle. Is composed Of thin LAYERS
OF tessellated cells. without vessels or nerves,
and covers the whole exterior Of the body,
eTen the front of the eye. 1t is pierced by
the se,laceoas OF oil glands. the sweat glands,
and the shafts Of the hair; its use is to protect
the dermis or trne skin from mechanical injury
or contact with the air Upon the part Of the
body most in use for mechanical purposes as the
hands foT labor and the feet for locomotion, the
cuticie is thick and tough, corresponding IN
compost son 70 the ho0fs and claws of the lower
animals
The ouficle becomes hard and horny with
hard usage as in the hands OF farmers who
have been guiding the plow, or of the men who
handle freight about the depots, or who are
employed as porters ia hotels, or IN any employ
mcnt requiring the handling of heavy weights
OF con stant friction. The blisters which rise
when you take Up q broom 10 sweep after q
period Of rest, OF which are caused by burn
or mustard plaster, indicate the point Of sep
arat5On bstEeen the scarf skin and the true
skin. Prick the blister Il yOu would know
how exempt from feeling the scarf skin is.
IOH are al familiar with the scAool-b0y ex-
pertinent OF running a pin between the outer
right and there Is not the slightest feeling;
bur let the point take TIE wrong direction aad
sec what a twinge there VIII be. 1t Is because
you strike the nerve messengers underneath
The scarf skin Is 2 tough old sentinel, and When
It's work il done ii Is sI0ugbed OIL while a fresh
DEAL goes On guard
This slougaing-of process goes on constantly
When y0u strip o. your stocking at night you
VIII fii8a nIllioas Of minute white particles
elinging - Il. telling you that the old sentine
A. OF dG4F and new one on. Or you WASH
yourself with soap and water and find eurnFny
scum CD tie surface by which you know yot
have freed yaGr b9eg Of 8 est o 81 servant Who's
presence in death Is but 10 poison and p0Ilute
TheimporsAnce Il washing the body frequently
and 81 rubbing the skin with roagh towels
VIII be - once apparent, when It is remem
bered how steadily this renewing process i.
going on The particles that one hoEr proteea
End defend may the next be bar obstrHctiEs
debris which ii Is the pzrt OF wisdom to re
move before they have ciogged up al the door
and windows Of slightly h4bitatiOn.
TIE TRUE SKIN
The deepest portion Of the human skin ]
known as the cpgfHai, derasis or CUTS ezra. Thi
true skin Is dense. elastic. and composed of in
\ terlaced dbers. whose interstices are masses 0
fat The whole resting upon layer Of areola
tissue, with the sadgripzrous or sweat glands
the hair lO.licles and the sebace0us or oil gland
sithin and below It.
The sensitive papiila, which supply Tn
sense Of toach, are minnie coaical elevation.
Ehich rise like tiny branches Of coral from til
true skiH. being most numerous IN the surfae
o. the hands, fingers feet aud toes. Rub you
hand over an uneven surface, and It is the N
pilla that respond They arc abundantly SUI
piled with blood, are erectile under stimuli an
vary IN sensitiYencss, according to the peFso
o. the training 10 which they have been sui
fected. bind EIGn, who has no use for Id
sense Of sight, Ands that these little errand boy
q touch grow very acute by practice, so tha
they not only tel min the shape aud forms
shlngs, but theIr texture and quality as well.
The sebaesous or oil glands are very simila
10 the SRI eat glands, for which they are ofte
mistaken, and can only be distinguished By q
ply character Of their secrefions They al
distributed ever almost the entire surface
sEe body, being less numerous where the PEI
Tpirat0ry glands abound and rice Uersa The
are absent on the palms and soles. but abunC
AIT Oh tie face and scalp. Their use is to kee
she skin moist and soft and TO prevent til
Crying and cracking 81 the hair in the sun an
ar. The oily secretIOns are much more pr
fuse N some persons than IN Others. A too frs
BebaceOEs secretion VIII account for the oil
Bees OF very many, particularly IN snmme
Ehen the secretions are stimulated. in trol
-. - 81. rrff. L