Chap. 15.] *fhe Skin, 201 



great degree. Within the cranium, where by its 

 preffure it might injure the brain, none of this fub- 

 ftance is found. 



The cellular fubftance, befides ferving the purpofes 

 already mentioned, by being placed between the fkin 

 and the mufcles, is always confidered as one of the 

 integuments of the body. The other integuments are 

 the fkin, properly fo called, and the epidermis or fcarf 

 fkin. 



The (kin is probably nothing more than a con- 

 denfed' cellular fubftance, copioufly furnifhed with 

 b'ood-vefTels, lymphatics, and nerves, as it within 

 gradually becomes Ids clenfe, and is at length infen- 

 fibly loft in the loofe cellular fubftance. It covers 

 the whole furface of the body, is tough, elaftic, and 

 forms, by means of the nerves, which terminate in 

 it, particularly at the extremities of the ringers, where 

 it is moft fenfible, the organ of touch. 



The cutis, when freed from the epidermis, which is 

 its external covering, is found to be furnifhed with in- 

 numerable papillae, which appear like minute granu- 

 lations j their ufe is probably to increafe the fenfibi- 

 lity of the fkin, as where it is moft fenfible they are 

 moft remarkable. 



The fkin or cutis, however, not only covers the 

 outer parts of the body, but becoming thinner and 

 more delicate enters and invefts internally the various 

 cavities which open on the furface. It is every where 

 pierced with blood-veffels, and in fome parts with the 

 duds of fmall glands, which are leated between the 

 (kin and the cellular fubftance, and which pour out 

 an oily febacious matter for the lubrication of die fur- 

 face of the body. 



The epidermis or fcarf fkin every where covers the 

 frue fkin, which would otherwife, from its extreme 



feasibility, 



