CHANGE OF COLOR. 417 



After putrefaction, or maceration for a long time, the cuticle 

 separates readily from the cutis vera ; and the rete mucosum 

 sometimes adheres to the skin, and sometimes to the cuticle. 

 If the parts are much softened by putrefaction, the rete 

 mucosum can be washed away, like the pigmentum nigrum 

 of tlie eye ; leaving the cutis white, and the cuticle nearly 

 transparent. 



In the negroes the black color of the rete mucosum is 

 greatly diminished, on the palms of the hands, and soles of the 

 feet, and under the nails ; but it is perceptible. It is said that 

 the black color does not appear in the cicatrices of the blacks. 

 This is the fact with respect to recent cicatrices ; but those of 

 long standing are often dark-colored, although not so black 

 as the original skin. The pits of the small-pox in their skins, 

 although white at first, become finally as dark as the original 

 surface. 



In Europeans and their descendants the color of the rete 

 mucosum becomes darker, as they are more exposed to the air 

 and the rays of the sun ; and soon changes again to its original 

 fairness, by confinement to the house. 



In negroes the skin loses some of its deep glossy black color 

 during the winter season of cold climates, and recovers it again 

 in summer. 



The rete mucosum sometimes undergoes very important 

 changes : there have been several instances in the United 

 States, where large portions of the skin of the African have 

 changed from black to white ; owing probably to an absorption 

 of the black pigment from the rete mucosum ; or, perhaps, to 

 an absorption of the rete mucosum itself. 



There is now in Philadelphia a female, between thirty and 

 forty years of age, in whom this process is going on. One of 

 her parents was a negro and the other a mulatto ; and her 

 original complexion accorded with her origin. But a change 

 of color began during her childhood, in small spots, which 

 have gradually increased so much, that at this time the whole 

 of her body and limbs are nearly white, with the exception of 

 her hands and feet. A large proportion of her face is also white, 



