THE SKIN AND ITS SECRETIONS. 327 



their functions, they may to a certain extent act vicariously for 

 one another. 



Various conditions affect both the character and quantity of the 

 sweat secreted. The secretion differs for different parts of the 

 skin, and it has been stated that the perspirations of the cheek the 

 palm of the hand, and under the arm stand to each other as 100 : 

 90 : 45. From the unequal secretion on different parts of the body 

 it follows that no results as to the amount of secretion for the en- 

 tire surface of the body can be calculated from the amount secreted 

 by a small part of the skin in a given time. In determining the 

 total amount a stronger secretion is as a rule produced, and as the 

 glands can with difficulty work for a long time with the same energy, 

 it is hardly correct to estimate the quantity of secretion per 24 

 hours from a strong secretion enduring only a short time. FAVRE 

 obtained 2560 grms. sweat in 1 hours from the entire surface of 

 the body in a steam-bath and with abundant drinking of water. 



The perspiration obtained for investigation is never quite pure, 

 but contains cast-off epidermis-cells, also cells and fat-globules 

 from the sebaceous glands. Filtered sweat is a clear, colorless 

 fluid with a salty taste and of different odors from different parts 

 of the body. The physiological reaction is acid, according to most 

 statements ; still after continuous secretion the sweat may be alka- 

 line (FAVRE and GILLIBERT, TRUMP Y and LUCHSINGER). An 

 alkaline reaction may also depend on a decomposition with the 

 formation of ammonia. According to a few investigators, the phy- 

 siological reaction is alkaline, and an acid reaction depends, accord- 

 ing to these investigators, upon an admixture of fatty acids from 

 the sebum. MORIGGIA found that the sweat from herbivora was 

 ordinarily alkaline, while that from carnivora was generally acid. 

 The specific gravity of sweat is 1.003-1.005. 



Perspiration contains 977.4-995.6 p. m., average 988.2 p. m., 

 water, and 4.4-22.6 p. m., average 11.80 p. m., solids. The organic 

 bodies are neutral fats, cholesterin, volatile fatty acids, traces of 

 albumin (according to LECLERC habitually in horses ; sometimes in 

 man after hot baths, in BRIGHT'S disease, and after the use of 

 pilocarpin), also creatinin (CAPRANICA), aromatic oxyacids, ethereal 

 sulphuric acids of phenol and skatoxyl (KAST), but not of indoxyl, 

 and lastly urea. The amount of urea, which according to FUNKE 



