COLOR 



201 



Pigment cells. In the deepest layers of the epi- 

 dermis are cells containing more or less coloring matter 

 or pigment, which intercepts the rays of the sun and 

 thus prevents irritation. In the colored races, these 

 cells are more numerous and contain darker pigment 

 than in the case of the white races. They are therefore 



-_^. Ducts of 

 sweat glands 



Papillae 

 Epidermis 



Dermis 



FIG. 110. Papillae of skin, as seen when epidermis is stripped from dermis. 



much better adapted to hot climates. Among the white 

 races, exposure of the skin to sunshine leads the cells 

 to protect themselves and the body by a rapid increase 

 in the deposit of pigment, which may be uniformly dis- 

 tributed as in tanning, or scattered as in freckling. 

 Freckling is much more common among blondes than 

 among brunettes, because many of their cells have not 

 the power to develop the protective pigment. 



Color of the skin. The color which results from 

 the presence of pigment must not be confused with the 

 warm glow which is the characteristic color of the skin 

 in health and is due to the color of the blood showing 



