OR, A TREATISE ON PILE. 47 
(he says) sometimes called the pulpe of the hair. But this papille in Wilson’s plate, above 
referred to, is situated above the deeper layer of the cutis—the corium. Such is the state 
of uncertainty as to even the locality of the follicle. 
Through the politeness of Dr. George Hewston, of this city, we obtained a suit of 
specimens of skins from different parts of the human head, body and limbs. We have 
made numerous horizontal and transverse sections, exhibiting the hair follicles in their 
natural positions, from which we infer that they are, for the most part, situated im the 
dermis, although occasionally the posterior termination of them reaches the adipose tissue. 
How the Follicle is formed.—Prof. Dunglison* says, that the follicle is formed “by the 
inversion of the cutis, and is lined by a reflection of the epidermis.” In his Medical 
Dictionary he makes the word “ cutis” synonymous with “skin;” which, as we have seen 
above, he describes as constituted of four distinct layers; but we presume that he here 
means by cutis, the cutis vera or corium; since he says that the follicle is fined by the 
epidermis. 
That the follicle is formed by this inward turning of the cutis; isa very general opinion; 
even Henlé asserts, that “it is a true inward turning (renversement) of the dermis, form- 
ing a cul de sac, to receive the button.” But we believe this to be a popular error, and 
shall endeavor to prove it so to be. 
In the first place, we would inquire, if the follicle is formed zn the dermis, how can it 
invert it? It seems to us that, in order to form this inversion, it should be formed above 
the dermis; but no one pretends that the follicle is formed 7m the epidermis. 'To invert 
(from inverto) means to change or reverse the natural order of things; and what reason 
can be given why a follicle, formed in the body of the dermis, should be made to change 
the natural order of this integument? Is it not much more reasonable to suppose, that if 
the follicle belongs to the dermis, and is formed therein, that it should be formed like glands 
and ducts, without any inversion? 
But the difficulty is increased by the assertion that the follicle is not cnly formed by an 
inward turning of the dermis, but that it is lined by a reflection of the epidermis. 
How the epidermis, which is represented to be a dry, scaly structure, can be reflected 
or inwardly turned into each particular follicle of the hundreds and thousandst that are 
found in the dermis, is very difficult to conceive. What is it that causes this reflection ? 
Is it the button? Then the button ought to be formed above, or at least zn, the epidermis. 
If the follicle is formed after the button, how does it pass that portion of pile so as to 
invert it, as it is represented to do? And lastly, the epidermis is depicted (p. 100 of 
Dunglison’s Hum. Phys.) with oblique pores, for the passage of the hair; and that this 
diagram is so far correct, any one may satisfy himself by ocular demonstration. Let him 
examine his forearm, and among the hairs he will discover innumerable small black specks; 
* Prof. Dunglison’s Human Physiology, comprised in two octavo volumes of nearly 1,350 pages, is full of valuable infor- 
mation, as we have a right to expect from a gentleman of his talents and learning. All that he says upon pile is comprised 
in less than four pages, and the principal part of that is copied from others. 
7 A laborious German has taken the pains to count the hairs upon the human head, and finds the following, viz: blonde, 
140,400; brown, 109,440; black, 102,962; red, 88,740. 
12 
