230 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Dead Particles of Cuticle are lodged on the Skin. We bathe the 

 Hands and Face, but the Body is not generally bathed. Those who 

 bathe daily have soft Skin. Bathing a religious Rite in ancient 

 Times and in Oriental Countries. Much practised in Russia and 

 Finland. 



555. THE cuticle is constantly casting off its outer layers 

 in scurf or minute scales. Some animals cast their skins 

 entire, and others cast their shells once a year ; but man is 

 incessantly casting his skin. The outer scales, which are 

 the dead particles of the cuticle, lie loosely on the surface, 

 and can be scraped off with a knife at any time ; ' they have 

 then the appearance of branny powder. Some animals cast 

 their hair or shed their coats, and birds moult their feathers 

 annually. But the hair and nails of man grow from their 

 roots, and thrust out their outer extremities, which, if not 

 trimmed, would be continually breaking and dropping off. 



556. If any one who had for a long time deprived him- 

 self of the needful luxury of a warm bath should remain for 

 several minutes in one, he would be surprised to see how 

 large a quantity of this accumulated matter of the dead skin 

 he could rub off with his hands or a flesh-brush. The re- 

 moval of this gives to the skin a very agreeable sensation of 

 comfort. This is more perceptible after taking a warm 

 than a, cold bath. 



557. We bathe the face and hands daily, and oftener, and 

 know how comfortable the skin upon those parts feels after 

 this operation. But if this duty is neglected, the skin is 

 irritable and irritated ; it seems stiff and loaded, and we feel 

 disposed to scratch and rub it fo remove the disagreeable 

 burden. But the other parts, which are not so frequently 

 washed, are not so easily offended. They bear the burden 

 of accumulated excretions and dust with Jess complaint. 

 But, if they were cleansed as faithfully as the hands and 

 the face, they would be equally sensitive, and feel as keenly 



