OR, A TREATISE ON PILE. 47 



(he says) sometimes called the pulpe of the hair. But this papillae in Wilson's plate, above 

 referred to, is situated above the deeper layer of the cutis the corium. Such is the state 

 of uncertainty as to even the locality of the follicle. 



Through the politeness of Dr. George Hevvston, of this city, we obtained a suit of 

 specimens of skins from different parts of the human head, body and limbs. We have 

 made numerous horizontal and transverse sections, exhibiting the hair follicles in their 

 natural positions, from which we infer that they are, for the most part, situated in the 

 dermis, although occasionally the posterior termination of them reaches the adipose tissue. 



Horv the Follicle is formed. Prof. Dunglison* says, that the follicle is formed "by the 

 inversion of the cutis, and is lined by a reflection of the epidermis." In his Medical 

 Dictionary he makes the word " cutis" synonymous with "skin;" which, as we have seen 

 above, he describes as constituted of four distinct layers; but we presume that he here 

 means by cutis, the cutis vera or corium ; since he says that the follicle is lined by the 

 epidermis. 



That the follicle is formed by this inward turning of the cutis, is a very general opinion; 

 even Henle asserts, that "it is a true inward turning (renversement) of the dermis, form- 

 ing a cul de sac, to receive the button." But we believe this to be a popular error, and 

 shall endeavor to prove it so to be. 



In the first place, we would inquire, if the follicle is formed in the dermis, how can it 

 invert it? It seems to us that, in order to form this inversion, it should be formed above 

 the dermis ; but no one pretends that the follicle is formed in the epidermis. To invert 

 (from inverto) means to change or reverse the natural order of things ; and what reason 

 can be given why a follicle, formed in the body of the dermis, should be made to change 

 the natural order of this integument? Is it not much more reasonable to suppose, that if 

 the follicle belongs to the dermis, and is formed therein, that it should be formed like glands 

 and ducts, without any inversion ? 



But the difficulty is increased by the assertion that the follicle is not only formed by an 

 inward turning of the dermis, but that it is lined by a refection of the epidermis. 



How the epidermis, which is represented to be a dry, scaly structure, can be reflected 

 or inwardly turned into each particular follicle of the hundreds and thousands! that are 

 found in the dermis, is very difficult to conceive. What is it that causes this reflection ? 

 Is it the button? Then the button ought to be formed above, or at least in, the epidermis. 

 If the follicle is formed ajter the button, how does it pass that portion of pile so as to 

 invert it, as it is represented to do? And lastly, the epidermis is depicted (p. 100 of 

 Dunglison's Hum. Phys.) with oblique pores, for the passage of the hair ; and that this 

 diagram is so far correct, any one may satisfy himself by ocular demonstration. Let him 

 examine his forearm, and among the hairs he will discover innumerable small black specks; 



* Prof. Dunglison's Human Physiology, comprised in two octavo volumes of nearly 1,350 pages, is full of valuable infor- 

 mation, as we have a right to expect from a gentleman of his talents and learning. All that he says upon pile is comprised 

 in less than four pages, and the principal part of that is copied from others. 



t A laborious German has taken the pains to count the hairs upon the human head, and finds the following, viz : blonde, 

 140,400; brown, 109,440; black, 102,962; red, 88,740. 



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