546 



THE MICROSCOPE. 



a square inch of skin on the palm of the hand there exists 

 a length of tube equal to 882 inches, or 73 \ feet. Surely 

 such an amount of drainage as 73 feet in every square 

 inch of skin assuming this to be the average for the 

 whole body is something wonderful; and the thought 

 naturally intrudes itself, What if this drainage were 

 obstructed?" 1 Would it be possible to furnish a stronger 

 proof of the necessity for maintaining a healthy state 

 of skin? 



The oil-glands of the skin are similar in structure to 



Fig. 284. A vertical section of the Human Skin, showing the sweat-glands, sur- 

 rounded by fat-globules, the ducts passing upwards through the epithelial 

 layer to the epidermis or external cuticle, magnified 250 diameters. 



the perspiratory ducts, being composed of three layers 

 derived respectively from the scarf-skin, which lines their 

 interior; the sensitive skin, which is the medium of dis- 

 tribution for the vessels and nerves ; and the corium, with 



(1) Wilson on the Management of the Skin. 



