100 THE MICROSCOPIST. 



or sebaceous matter for lubricating the skin itself. Taking 

 the human skin as an example, we should commence the study 

 with vertical sections, made through parts supplied both with 

 hair and papillae. The perspiratory glands are best seen in the 

 soles of the feet, and palms of the hands ; the sebaceous glands 

 should be examined in parts about the face or chest, where 

 hairs are numerous; these latter sections will also show the 

 roots of the hairs and the hair follicles. The skin may be ren- 

 dered firm enough for vertical section by hardening in a satu- 

 rated solution of carbonate of potash or in strong nitric acid. 



The epidermis may be separated by maceration in water, or 

 by plunging the skin into water nearly boiling hot. Great 

 care must be taken in separating it in order to see the coacal 

 prolongations sent by it to line the sebaceous crypts, bulbs of 

 the hairs, &c. 



The capillary network of the cutis vera may be seen in in- 

 jected specimens when the cuticle has been removed, which will 

 often require the aid of maceration for the purpose. If the 

 skin be that of a black man, care should be taken in the removal 

 of the cuticle, as in it may be examined the rete mucosunij or 

 colored layer, which consists of a series of minute hexagonal 

 cells, containing pigment. The same structure may be seen 

 in the skins of animals whose hairs are black ; for this purpose 

 the lips of a black kitten, when injected, should be selected, 

 as in them the mode of growth of the young whiskers, their 

 copious supply of bloodvessels and nerves, and various other 

 points of interest, may be observed. The papillae are best 

 shown in the extremities of the fingers and toes, when inject- 

 ed ; the cuticle which invests them should also be mounted as 

 an object, with its attached or papillary surface uppermost, as 

 in this the grooves for their lodgment, together with the open- 

 ings of the sudoriferous glands, can be well seen. 



The two layers of integument in insects, &c. ? may be sepa- 



