SEIN AND ITS APPENDAGES. 131 



of action, will result in the disturbance and destruction of 

 its functions. 



The relation of the skin with the density of the atmos- 

 phere is equally fixed and important During an ascent to 

 the top of Mont Blanc, where the air is so much more rare, 

 the cohesive property of the skin gives way for want of 

 pressure ; a general relaxation occurs, and the blood, we 

 are told, flows from the whole surface of the body. Too 

 great density, on the other hand, would be equally de- 

 structive. 



In regard to the Chemical relations of the skin, it is 

 well known that if chemical agents be not applied in their 

 due and proper proportion, they are violently destructive, at 

 once disorganizing the skin, breaking up its whole texture, 

 and, consequently, destroying all its functions. 



The skin, being an organ, and forming part of the 

 body, becomes necessarily connected with, and more or less 

 dependent on, every other part or organ ; and hence it has 

 organic relations. The principal of these are with the 

 mucous membrane and kidneys. When the functions 

 of these organs are increased, those of the skin are dimin- 

 ished, and vice versa. 



The Mental Relations of the skin, or those it has with 

 the brain and nervous system, are equally striking. Every 

 one has seen fear and grief contract the skin, and render 

 it pale, cold, bloodless, benumbed, deprived both of sensa- 

 tion and secretion. Anger and joy, on the contrary, 

 dilate the skin, fill it with fluids, increase its color, 

 excite all its functions, and, if in excess, will as certainly 

 injure and derange them. 



Now these several relations constitute so many fixed and 

 definite laws for the regulation of the skin's functions 

 obedience to which has the high reward of health and life; 

 disobedience, the penalty of disease and death. The pen- 

 alty is inflicted in a variety of ways, as in vices of confor- 

 mation, congenital and acquired, accidental productions, as 

 fistulas, abscesses, morbid secretions of the sebaceous folli- 

 cles, having names according to the kind and consistency 



