314 
IMPORTANCE OF CUTANEOUS EXHALATION. 
moulds were dried, while the floor was red-hot, and a ther¬ 
mometer in the air stood at 350°; and Chabert, the “Fire- 
king,” was in the habit of entering an oven whose temperature 
was from 400° to 600°. It is possible that these feats might 
be easily matched by many workmen, who are habitually 
exposed to high temperatures; such as those employed in 
iron-foundries, glass-houses, and gas-works. 
373. That the power of sustaining a high temperature 
mainly depends upon the dryness of the atmosphere, is evident 
from what has just been stated; since, if the perspiration that 
is poured-forth upon the skin is not carried-off with sufficient 
rapidity, on account of the previous humidity of the air, the 
temperature of the body will not be sufficiently kept down. 
It has been found, from a considerable number of experiments, 
that when warm-blooded animals are placed in a hot atmos¬ 
phere saturated with moisture, the temperature of their bodies 
is gradually raised 12° or 13° above the natural standard; and 
that the consequence is then inevitably fatal. 
374. The amount of fluid exhaled from the skin and lungs 
(§ 343) in twenty-four hours, probably averages about three 
or four pounds. The largest quantity ever noticed, except 
under extraordinary circumstances, was 5 lbs.; and the smallest, 
11 lbs. It contains a small quantity of solid animal matter, 
besides that of the other secretions of the skin which are 
mingled with it; and there is good reason to think that this 
excretion is of much importance, in carrying off certain sub¬ 
stances which would be injurious if allowed to remain in the 
blood. That which is called the Hydrophatic system, proceeds 
upon the plan of increasing the cutaneous exhalation to a 
very large amount; and there seems much evidence, that 
certain deleterious matters, the presence of which in the blood 
gives rise to Gout, Eheumatism, &c., are drawn off from it 
more speedily and certainly in this way, than in any other. 
37 5. Besides the perspiratory glands, the skin contains 
others, which have special functions to perform. Thus in 
most parts which are liable to rub against each other, we find 
a considerable number of sebaceous follicles (fig. 8, a a), which 
secrete a fatty substance that keeps the skin soft and smooth. 
Besides these, the skin contains other follicles in particular 
parts, for secreting peculiar substances; as, for instance, those 
which form the cerumen , a bitter waxy substance that is 
