128 OP PERSPIRATION. 



chemical changes similar to those which occur in the lungs (171),* 

 it is believed by some to be an organ of absorption, while others 

 deny that absorption ever takes place unless friction is employed 

 or the cuticle abraded. Dr. Currie's patient labouring under 

 dysphagia seated in the oesophagus, always found his thirst re- 

 lieved by bathing, but never acquired the least additional weight. f 

 Dr. Gerard's diabetic patient weighed no more after cold or warm 

 bathing than previously. J Seguin found no mercurial effects 

 from bathing a person in a mercurial solution, provided the 

 cuticle remained entire ; they occurred, however, when the cuticle 

 was abraded. § 



But the two former cases are no proofs that water was not 

 absorbed, because the persons immersed did not lose in weight, 

 which they would have done if not immersed, owing to the 

 pulmonary excretions ; this therefore must have been counter- 

 balanced by absorption somewhere, and no shadow of proof can 

 be urged against its occurrence by the skin, as Dr. Kellie re- 

 marks in his excellent paper on the functions of this part. || 

 Seguin besides found two grains of the mercurial salt disappear 

 in an hour from the solution' when of the temperature of 1S° 

 Reaumur. 



pulmonary discbarge in twenty-four hours amounted to 15 oz. and the cutaneous 

 to 1 lb. 14 oz. The quantity of carbon separated by the lungs ought however to 

 have been taken into the account. If it amounts to 5§ oz. in twenty-four hours, 

 — half the quantity stated by Allen and Pepys, but probably nearer the truth, 

 there will be but 9$ oz. of pulmonary exhalation. They found the cutaneous 

 transpiration at its maximum immediately after dinner, and at its minimum 

 during digestion. The mnttcr of transpiration contains an acid, probably the 

 lactic, a muriate of potash and soda, lactate of soda, and perhaps albumen. 

 Berzelius, .Animal Chemistry. 95. 



• Cruikshanks on Insetuible Perspiration, and Ellis, Further enquiry on the 

 Changes produced in Atmospheric Air, &c. 



f Medical Reports, &c. 



♦ Hollo, On Diabetes. 



§ La Midecinc eclairie, &c. T. 3. 



D IZdinburgh Med. and Surg. Journal, vol. i. 



