THE SKIN AND BATHING. 187 



epithelial scales, with true secreting surfaces. It is 

 the work of these little organs to receive the im- 

 pure blood which is constantly brought to them 

 through a network of arteries, and purify it ; and 

 to thrust out of the system the waste or offensive 

 matter which is separated from it. These impuri- 

 ties come along in the blood, and are cast out 

 through the perspiratory ducts while dissolved in 

 that medium. After the blood is thus cleansed, 

 another set of vessels are ready at hand to carry it 

 back into the interior of the body, to become again 

 and again loaded with impurities, which the little 

 glands are tireless in extracting and removing. 

 What organs in the human body subserve higher 

 or more vital purposes than these ? Does the liver 

 or the stomach, or do the kidneys or the lungs, 

 stand in more intimate relation with life than these 

 little glands ? We think not. Their size varies in 

 different parts of the body. In the palm of the 

 hand they are from l-1000th to l-2000th of an 

 inch in diameter, while in the arm-pits they are 

 l-60th of an inch. The length of the tube which 

 constitutes both gland and duct, is about a quarter 

 of an inch, and the diameter is about l-1700th of. 

 an inch. It is a curious fact that the ducts, while 

 traversing the true skin, are perfectly straight ; but 

 as soon as they enter the tough scarf-skin, they be- 

 come spiral, and resemble a cork-screw, so that the 



