52 PHYSIOLOGY AND TEMPERANCE. 



black specks on the face, or they may increase to quite a size 

 producing the large lumps sometimes found on the head. 



6. The Hair. The hair and nails are in reality out- 

 growths of the epidermis. The root of the hair, called the 

 hair follicle, passes obliquely down to the loose cellular tissue. 

 It is a portion of the true skin dipping down, forming a little 

 hollow, from the bottom of which rises a tiny bulb. The cells 

 of the epidermis line this hollow, and form around the bulb. 

 They are pressed together lengthwise, and being added to 

 from this little bulb, they form a slender tube, which pushes 

 its way out beyond the surface of the skin. (Fig. 19.) Very 

 small muscles extend from the side of the hair follicles to the 

 skin close by. It is the contraction of these minute muscles 

 which causes the hair to stand in moments of fear. 



The color of the hair is due to the presence of pigment 

 matter. It is said that the many shades of color in the 

 human hair are owing to the mixture of three colors black, 

 yellow and red in different proportions. As age advances, 

 the pigment gradually disappears, leaving the hair white. 

 Instances are recorded where, from some strong emotion, the 

 hair has lost its color in a single night. This would show 

 that even the hair is under the influence of the nervous sys- 

 tem. The welfare of the hair is dependent on the condition 

 of the skin. The roots of the hair in a healthy skin will be 

 likewise healthy. Pulling out a hair by the root does not 

 prevent its growing again. To stop hairs from growing, as is 

 sometimes done where it disfigures a lady's face, it is necessary 

 to destroy the hair bulb. This is a very delicate operation. 



Baldness is a name applied to the want of hair on the top 

 of the head. There are many causes for this loss of hair, but 

 perhaps the chief amongst them is the tendency there is in 

 some families to the early loss of vitality in the hair. Want 

 of proper care, in allowing the scales from the skin and oil 

 from the glands to become crusted on the scalp, is another 



