154 NATURE STUDY BY GRADES 



LESSON XXVIII 

 THE HUMAN SKIN 



The nature and use of the human skin may best be taught 

 in connection with other animal coverings. Compare the 

 skin of the palm with that on the back of the hand. Note 

 the color, thickness, markings, sensitiveness, etc., of each, and 

 assign reasons. 



What effect has hard manual labor upon the skin in the 

 palm ? Why does the hand at first blister and not afterwards ? 

 Which becomes "water soaked" first, the palm or the back 

 of the hand, if kept long in warm water ? Why ? Examine 

 with a lens the fine hairs on the back of the hand. A small 

 oil gland near each supplies the surface with oil to keep the 

 skin soft. Cold wind may harden this oil so that it cannot 

 spread over the skin ; the latter then dries and cracks open 

 to the sensitive skin underneath. The natural remedy, then, 

 for chapped hands is a little animal fat, mutton tallow is 

 excellent. Gloves or proper warmth secured in any way is 

 the natural preventative. 



In hot weather, or during vigorous exercise, what conies 

 freely from the skin ? Is perspiration pure water ? Prove by 

 tasting, or by evaporating a few drops on a piece of glass, that 

 it contains many impurities. Free perspiration, therefore, is 

 one way of preventing sickness. As it evaporates, it has 

 what effect upon the heat of the body? Perspiration is also 

 a heat regulator. How ? WTiy should we bathe often ? 



What becomes of liniment rubbed on the skin ? How does 

 contact with the leaves of poison ivy introduce poison into 

 the blood and cause painful sores? There are in the skin 

 very small absorbent glands that take up many things that 



