IMPORTANCE OF THE CUTANEOUS TRANSPIRATION. 393 



skin separates, not only fails to give us any conclusion, but it might 

 probably lead us to the erroneous view that this function of the skin 

 may be perfectly replaced by the kidneys, for the constituents of 

 the sweat are collectively contained in the urine. We should, 

 however, obviously be drawing too general a conclusion, if we 

 were led from the investigations of chemists to ascribe a less 

 importance to the cutaneous transpiration. When we can directly 

 refer individual groups of symptoms to affections of the peripheral 

 nerves, induced by rapid cooling, there follows a group of sequelae, 

 which we cannot help ascribing to the retention of certain dele- 

 terious substances. In the present imperfect state of zoo-chemical 

 analysis in reference to the volatile odorous matters, we may 

 readily believe that the substances of this nature, which always 

 occur more or less abundantly in the sweat, induce definite 

 changes in the metamorphosis of the blood as well as in the 

 functions of the individual organs, and thus occasion the various 

 forms of diseases arising from chill ; many, however, of the volatile 

 matters pertaining to the materia medica and to toxicology, when 

 introduced into the mass of the juices, even in extremely minute 

 quantities, induce the most urgent morbid phenomena. There is 

 no secretion not even the very analogous pulmonary exhalation 

 in which we find such various and penetrating odorous substances 

 as in the cutaneous transpiration. Strongly odorous matters, as, 

 for instance, balsam of copaiva, musk, ether, the dead-house 

 smell, &c., when taken into the system, are not only given off 

 with the flatus and the pulmonary exhalation, but also by the 

 cutaneous transpiration. Hence it would seem as if the skin, like 

 most other organs, provided for the separation of certain peculiar 

 matters, and thus fulfilled a special object in the economy of the 

 animal organism. 



As a natural sequence, we should here notice the pulmonary 

 exhalation, but the positive results of the investigations that have 

 been hitherto made in relation to this subject, are so intimately 

 connected with those undertaken to elucidate the process of 

 respiration, that we must run the risk of being charged with 

 procrastination or want of clearness, if, from a love of systematic 

 arrangement, we should boldly separate from one another investi- 

 gations undertaken with a single idea. 



