CUTANEOUS AND MUCOUS FOLLICLES. 



Fig. 168. 



557 



Cutaneous Glands of external Meatus Auditorius. ! Section of the skin, magnified 3 diameters; 2, 2, 

 hairs; 3, 3, superficial sebaceous glands; 1, 1, larger and deeper-seated glands, by which the cerumen is 

 secreted. 3. A hair, perforating the epidermis at 3; 1, 1, sebaceous glands, with their excretory ducts, 2, 2; 

 4, base of the hair, in its double follicle, 5, 5. 3. Cerumen gland, formed by the contorted tube, 1, 1, of the 

 excretory duct, 2; 3, vascular trunk and ramifications. The last two figures highly magnified. (After 

 Wagner.) 



these are closely analogous in form to the sudoriferous glands, as the accom- 

 panying figure shows ; but their secretion is very different, being nearly solid, 

 and having somewhat of a resinous character. It is probable that by similar 

 glands are elaborated the Odorous secretions, which are exuded from particu- 

 lar parts of the surface, especially the axillae. In many of the lower animals, 

 such glands may be detected, having a structure of considerable complexity. 

 The Odorous secretion would appear to be elaborated from the blood by a 

 simple chemical change : for it may be made evident, even in blood that has 

 been dried up, by treating it with sulphuric acid. This aromatic principle 

 differs sufficiently in the blood of different animals, to enable a person with a 

 delicate sense of smell to determine from what animal any specimen has been 

 procured ; and this fact has been applied with success to juridical investiga- 

 tions. It has even been stated that the blood of the Human male may be 

 distinguished from that of the Female, by its more powerful odour ; but this 

 does not appear to be the case, at least with sufficient certainty for medico- 

 legal inquiries.* 



704. Besides the crypts or follicles, which have been spoken of as gene- 

 rally existing in Mucous Membranes ( 640), there exist, in that of the Intes- 

 tinal canal, numerous glandulae in various parts, for the elaboration of particu- 

 lar secretions. In the Stomach, for example, a large number of these secreting 

 organs, some of them possessing rather a complex structure, are included in 

 the thickness of its walls, composing, indeed, the greater part of the mucous 

 membrane. If this be divided by a section perpendicular to its surface, it is 

 seen to be made up of a number of tubuli closely applied to each other, their 

 blind extremities being in contact with the submucous tissue, and their open 



* See Annales d'Hygiene, vol. i. pp. 267 and 548 ; vol. ii. p. 217; vol. x. p. 160, &c. v 



47* 



