Chap. 15.] Skins of tjtuadrupeds. 203 



portion of epidermis was covered with water, it ap-r 

 peared more tranfparent, and the cylinders and glo- 

 bules were feen more diftinclly. He could obferve 

 nothing, however, like perforations or holes- in the 

 epidermis, and therefore doubts of their exiftence. It 

 feems probable, the Abbe Fontana adds, that $ie 

 lymphatics, wnich le Pere della Torre pretends to have 

 feen in the epidermis, were nothing but thefe winding 

 cylinders. 



We muft believe, however, from the quantity of 

 fenfible and infenfible perfpiration, efpecially in warm 

 climates, where, according to Sanclorius, who made 

 his experiments in Italy, it amounts to five-eighths of 

 the food taken in, that there are perforations in the 

 epidermis for the paflage of exhalent Arteries. It may 

 be alfo added, that the appearances exhibited by ob- 

 jects fubmitted to microfcopes of high powers are 

 never much to be depended on, and have given rife 

 to numerous deceptions. 



Immediately below the fkin of quadrupeds, ex- 

 cept thofe of the porcine (fwine) fpecies, lies a thin 

 flefhy expanfion, called panniculus carnofus, cover- 

 ing the greater part of the body, and furrounding the 

 other mufcles. In man there is nothing fimilar to this, 

 excepting the platifma myoides, or the occipito- 

 frontalis mufcle. The ufe of this thin mufcular ex- 

 panfion is to wrinkle and move the fkin in order to 

 lhake off duft, infects, &c. 



