SYSTEMATIC SYNTHESIS OF TISSUES INTO ORGANS. 369 



1141. Remark. THE BEST METHOD OP CLEANSING THE SKIN will de- 

 pend upon the constitution and health of a person. If he can afford to 

 lose heat, cool water may be used ; but if he suffers from this, warm 

 water will never be harmful if care is taken to prevent evaporation, by 

 rapidly washing, drying, and covering one part before exposing another. 

 The vapor-bath is the most delicious and thoroughly cleansing of all 

 baths, and if taken during a very brief period, only till the perspiration 

 begins to start on the face, no other than good results can follow ; and in 

 case of incipient colds, and in rheumatic and asthmatic affections, the 

 most desirable results may be anticipated. The idea that colds are more 

 likely to be taken after them is erroneous, for heat being by them added 

 to the body it can afford to lose it without detriment. Hence, the Rus- 

 sians pass from their vapor-baths into the ice-cold river without a shock, 

 but with pleasure. 



1142. THE USES OF THE PEESPIEATOEY GLANDS are 

 among the most extensive and important in the body ; 

 and this is the reason why they are so numerous, and 

 one reason why the skin should be supplied with an ex- 

 traordinary proportion of Blood. It must also be circu- 

 lated through the skin to keep it warm and in a sensi- 

 tive condition. 



1143. Illus. WILSON HAS COMPUTED that the amount of tubeing 

 in the perspiratory glands of the human body is about twenty-eight 

 miles ; but this computation is certainly much too small. The amount 

 thrown out by the skin is never, in health, less than one pound in the 

 twenty-four hours, running up to five pounds in the hour. I have ob- 

 served, in one case, a man to lose four pounds in one hour and thirty- 

 five minutes : this included that lost by the lungs ; he neither ate nor 

 drank anything meantime ; most of this was, of course, water. Sanc- 

 torius weighed himself and all he ate and drank for thirty years, thus 

 giving all the necessary data on this point. 



1144. THE CEEUMINOUS AND ODOKIFEEOUS GLANDS 

 are coiled tubes, like the perspiratory, the former in the 

 ear-tube, and secreting the ear-wax, the latter being clus- 

 tered with the sweat-glands in the armpit. 



1145. Remark. In some persons the odors from these glands are 

 very unpleasant. Cleanliness will prevent them from accumulating ; but 

 only strong perfumes, like musk, will overpower them, and are the only 

 resources at present known. 



1141. What is ? 1142. What are ? 1143. What has ? What amount 

 lost by skin ? 1144. What said of ? 



