240 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



Lunatic Hospital in Paris, calms the excitement of the furi- 

 ous maniac by pouring cold water over the whole surface for a 

 considerable period, and, by thus cooling the skin, depresses 

 the external nervous system, and, through this, tranquillizes 

 the agitated brain. This method is practised with wonder- 

 ful success in his hands, and is elsewhere found to have a 

 similar effect upon many excited patients. 



581. Such is the structure of, and such are the offices 

 performed by, the skin. We have seen that the former is 

 complicated, and the latter are numerous. It is manifest 

 that this whole organ is intimately connected with the oper- 

 ations of all the other organs, and that the freedom of action, 

 the health, and the very life of the inner man, depend very 

 materially upon the healthy condition of the outer man. 

 We have seen, also, that this organ, while it is ready to per- 

 form its own part well, cannot do it alone, but stands in need 

 of our direction and aid to help it in its work, and our faith- 

 ful watchfulness to guard it from suffering and evil. 



582. We have therefore a responsibility to sustain in re- 

 gard to the skin. We must bathe it, and purify it from all 

 foulness, and cleanse it from all the excretions that adhere 

 to it ; we must give it tone and vigor, and power of resist- 

 ance to external injury, and make it more capable of receiv- 

 ing impressions and conveying sensations ; and, lastly, we 

 must clothe it, and otherwise defend it from excessive radia- 

 tion of heat, and over-active evaporation, which would cool 

 the body below its healthy and natural temperature; and yet 

 we must not so overclothe it as to lessen its power of self- 

 protection. 



