58 NOTES FROM THE .SOCTETY*S NOTE-BOOKS. 



" vernix cassora " of new-born animals represents the largest 

 amount of this secretion. 



T. W. Reid. 



The Sebaceous Glands are small, whitish glands, which are 

 found over almost the whole extent of the skin, and yield a fatty 

 secretion. Their form is very various. The simplest are pyri- 

 form or short tubular pouches, whilst in others several follicles or 

 clusters of follicles are connected by a common duct and form a 

 compound racemose gland. They principally occur in parts covered 

 by hair, and open on the surface in conjunction with the hair- 

 follicles. They only occur in places destitute of hair in a few 

 special places. 



The minute structure of these glands is as follows : — Every 

 gland has an outer delicate envelope of connective tissue, which 

 proceeds generally from the hair-follicle ; within are masses of 

 cells, which are continued from the outer root-sheath of the hair- 

 follicle, and form a lining of rounded or polygonal, nucleated cells, 

 disposed in several layers. These cells generally contain fat, 

 which appears in the form of drops. They form the sebaceous 

 matter of the skin, which at the temperate of the living body 

 is a semi-fluid substance, but in the dead subject has more a 

 cheesy consistence. They appear contemporaneously with the 

 commencing hairs, or a short time after, as outgrowths of the outer 

 root-sheath. 



In the chest, ear, and temples, they are rosette-shaped, and 

 measure q'\"' in diameter. Their shape in the nose is the same, 

 but in that organ they may measure o'4"'. 



The above is collated from " Kolliker's Manual of Human 

 Microscopic Anatomy," in which will also be found a long list of 

 the bibliography on the subject. 



Alfred Allen. 



The Ear Is a remarkable organ of more importance and 

 interest than is generally supposed. Externally viewed, it is alone 

 a more trustworthy means of identifying an individual than the 

 whole of what are usually called " the features." One might 

 swear confidently to a photograph of the ear of a friend, and yet 

 say of a C. de V. portrait of him, "Good gracious ! why, surely, 

 this never could have been taken for you ? " 



Internally the " lute of three thousand strings " is indeed 

 Wonderful. The optic nerves (so well-known and frequently 

 shown) take cognisance of barely an octave of luminous vibra- 



