TRICHOLOGIA MAMMALIUM; 



OR , 



A TREATISE ON PILE. 



CHAPTER I . 

 PART I. 



OF THE WORD PILE. There is no English term, in common use, which includes hair 

 and wool; we have, therefore, adopted the word "Pile."* It is true that there are some 

 animals, (belonging partly to the Carnaria, and partly to the Rodentia,) upon whose bodies 

 are found both hair and wool, that are called "the/wr-bearing animals," from which some 

 might infer that "fur" is a generic term, including both these integuments; but there are 

 other animals, upon whose bodies are found both hair and wool, that are not so denominated, 

 wherefore it would have been improper to have placed the word "fur" at the head of this 

 Chapter. 



OF THE DEFINITION OF PILE. We have never seen an accurate definition, nor even an 

 exact description, of pile, hair or wool. 



A definition, to be logical, should furnish a general idea of the nature of the genus of 

 the object defined, with all the essential specific differences. To do this we are not, at 

 present, prepared. But a description may pass examination, if it contains the most remarka- 

 ble properties of the object described. This we shall attempt to make with the word pile. 



OF THE DESCRIPTION OF PILE. (See fig. 1.) We describe pile to be a filamentous 

 appendage of the dermis of the mammalia, formed of gelatine and proteine, emanating 

 from cells, growing at its lower extremity only, consisting of, first a follicle, which is, 

 for the most part, imbedded in the dermis ; though sometimes found partly in the adipose 

 tissue, connected with vessels and nerves ; and, secondly, an insensible protruding shaft, 

 terminating at its inferior extremity in a button, and at its superior one in a point. This 

 shaft is composed of, 1st, a squamose and imbricated or paved cortex; 2dly, a fibrous inter- 

 mediate substance, and 3dly, a coloring matter. Pile possesses great ductility, flexibility, 

 elasticity and tenacity, being highly electric, polarizing light in an eminent degree; is 

 of great endurance, having but little hygroscopic property; very little power to conduct 



* From "pili/s," a hair. 



