THE SKIN. 205 



which had suddenly broken out with this rash, from eating 

 indigestible food. Its skin from head to foot was covered 

 with this scarlet eruption. But, as soon as the stomach was 

 relieved of its disturbing cause, the rash departed, and the 

 skin resumed its natural color. 



488. The lungs and the skin are intimately connected 

 by their mutual sympathies. They cooperate together in 

 carrying off much of the waste of the body. They bear 

 each other's burdens. When the circulation is checked in 

 the skin, it may be thrown more upon the lungs ; and an in- 

 crease of the flow of blood in the skin relieves the lungs 

 when they are oppressed. Every one is familiar with the 

 character and operation of a cold, and with the common 

 remedy of a sweating process. A man puts on a thinner 

 dress, or goes into a colder atmosphere^, than he has been 

 accustomed to. The cold of the air diminishes the ca- 

 pacity of the blood-vessels of the skin, interrupts the cu- 

 taneous circulation, and checks the perspiration. The 

 balance of the circulation is disturbed, and the lungs are 

 compelled to receive more blood than usually belongs to 

 them. These organs are then oppressed, and the breathing 

 becomes somewhat difficult ; or the blood-vessels in the 

 mucous or lining membrane of the air-cells and air-tubes of 

 the lungs may become enlarged, and carry more blood, and 

 throw out more mucus, which is coughed up. The sufferer 

 then takes hot teas, or other* stimulating remedies that excite 

 the cutaneous arteries, and he covers himself under an un- 

 usual quantity of bed-clothing. The skin then is heated ; its 

 arteries are enlarged and more active, and carry more blood : 

 the balance of circulation is restored, and the perspiration 

 breaks out profusely ; and then the lungs are relieved. 



489. A. similar connection exists between the skin and 

 digestive organs. In summer, and in warm climates, an in 

 terruption of the cutaneous circulation more frequently dis- 

 turbs the organs of nutrition, and excites them to excessive 

 action, and produces a painful disturbance ; and, on the con- 

 trary, the restoration of the external circulation and action 



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