348 THE SKIN. 



cuticle is thicker than in man, after having lust weight by 

 being kept for some time in a dry atmosphere, were found to 

 recover both their weight and plumpness very rapidily when 

 immersed in water. When merely the tail, posterior extremi- 

 ties, and posterior part of the body of the lizard were im- 

 mersed, the water absorbed was distributed throughout the 

 system. And a like absorption through the skin, though to a 

 less extent, may take place also in man. 



Dr. Madden, having ascertained the loss of weight, by 

 cutaneous and pulmonary transpiration, that occurred during 

 half an hour in the air, entered the bath, and remained im- 

 mersed during the same period of time breathing through a 

 tube which communicated with the air exterior to the room. 

 He was then carefully dried and again weighed. Twelve 

 experiments were performed in this manner ; and in ten there 

 was a gain of weight, varying from 2 scruples to 5 drachms 

 and 4 scruples, or a mean gain of 1 drachm 2 scruples and 13 

 grains. The loss in the air during the same length of time 

 (half an hour) varied in ten experiments from 2J drachms to 

 1 ounce 2J scruples, or in the mean was about 6J drachms. 

 So that, admitting the supposition that the cutaneous trans- 

 piration was entirely suspended, and estimating the loss by 

 pulmonary exhalation at 3 drachms, there was, in these ten 

 experiments of Dr. Madden, an average absorption of 4 

 drachms 1 scruple, and 3 grains, by the surface of the body, 

 during half an hour. In four experiments performed by M. 

 Berthold, the gain in weight was greater than in those of Dr. 

 Madden. 



In severe cases of dysphagia, when not even fluids can be 

 taken into the stomach, immersion in a bath of warm water or 

 of milk and water may assuage the thirst ; and it has been 

 found in such cases that the weight of the body is increased by 

 the immersion. Sailors also, when destitute of fresh water, 

 find their urgent thirst allayed by soaking their clothes in salt 

 water and wearing them in that state ; but these effects may be 

 in part due to the hindrance to the evaporation of water from 

 the skin. 



The absorption, also, of different kinds of gas by the skin is 

 proved by the experiments of Abernethy, Cruikshank, Beddoes, 

 and others. In these cases, of course, the absorbed gases com- 

 bine with the fluids, and lose the gaseous form. Several phys- 

 iologists have observed an absorption of nitrogen by the skin. 

 Beddoes says, that he saw the arm of a negro become pale for 

 a short time when immersed in chlorine ; and Abernethy ob- 

 served that when he held his hands in oxygen, nitrogen, car- 



