Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-01-26
;N'ashingtuu Standard
SECRET OF HUMAN COLOR.
a German Scientist Makes a Valuable Dis
CoVery.

A German Scientist Makes A Valuable Dis
covery.
N.A York Herald.
The secret oi the col"ring oi the
kin and hair Of human beings has at
last been discovered by Prof. Henry
Eunghan, a German scientist. The
function Of the skin he finds to bc far
more important than has generally
been supposed, for it has much to do
with the action OF the lungs and kid
ncys. The increased activity of the
skin in perspiration accompanies de-
crease in the secretion OF the kidneys,
and rice rersa. In other words, the
skin acts as the regulator of the tenn
pcrature of the inner organism, and
the hair on its surface plays no small
part in this work.
As is we'll known, the outer skin
consists OF two layers-thc thin exter-
ior cpidermis without any nerves in 1t,
and the deeper or mucuous stratum
or rete Malpighii, and between these
lies mass OF connecting cells. The
outer layer in the men OF all races is
always OF a yellowish gray color, and is
transparent, the coloring matter lying
in the rete Malpighii. Every change
in the color of the skin is due to
changes in this inner layer. AS the
outside of the skin is transparent it
shows the rosy color OF the inner skin
in the white races and the darker COL
ors in the other races, SO that when
one speaks of the negro as a" colored
man" it is on good physiological au-
thority.
The microscope and chemistry have
shown the coloring fluids that are
found in this inner skin, with pigment
particles of reddish brown, yellow and
black. These particles have been iso-
lated, proving the theory.
1t is still more interesting to find
that this same pigment has to do with
the color of the hair The brunette
has dark or black hair, because the
coloring matter which gives the skin
its shade is the same that passes into
the hair. The formation of this pig
ment takes place by the action of
blood and the circulation Of lymph.
Proof that the coloring matter comes
from the body has been possible only
in the last few years, when transplant
tation of skin has been successfully
performed. If some of the skin of a
negro be transplanted to the body of a
man of the Caucasian race it will very
soon become white, and if bits of white
skin be transplanted to negro they
soon become black. But the negro
grows gray in old age, and it would
have been expected that as his skin
docs not become white his hair ought
to stay black also. The cells at the
base OF the hair follicle are very del
icate, and in old age, when the vital
processes grow weaker, the pigment
cells dry up in white and black man
alike, so this supports the new dis.
covery.
Effect of climate upon the color Of
the skin of men of the same race il
explained, too, by this discovery, for il
is not only the action of the sun on
the outer skin that "burns" it to a
darker color, but the action OF heat on
the circulation and secretions of the
body has an effect upon the pigments
of the skin. The occupation, food, 10
cation of the home, whether on high
or low ground, in woods or on sunny
plains, all have their effect upon the
body, and, as consequence, upon it,
color.
Persons having curly hair generally
find it finer than that of their straight
haired friends, and it is generally
darker, because the coloring matter
for each hair is constant in quality
and in the fine hair it has less surface
TO color, so it seems darker. This il
the reason that the coarse beard OF a
man is always of a lighter shade thar
the finer hair on his head. In curly
hair it is found that the curl has beer
given to it in the follicle.
The papillae at the base of eacl
hair are in direct connection with thu
lymph of the mucous layer of thu
skin, whose delicate cells absorb tn.
pigment and give it up to the papilla'
of the hair. If by any accident thi'
stream of lymph is cut off no more
coloring matter reaches the hair ant
it becomes gray. This explains how :
person in great grief or anxiety may
have his hair change to gray ovel
night. The heat of the brain may de
stroy or dry up these delicate cells
and his hair is gray henceforth.
The Macaw and the Portrait.
Youths Companion.