156 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY CHAP. 



next to the kidneys in the excretion of water and organic 

 matter, and have also learned that it is the chief organ 

 for controlling and regulating the body temperature. 

 It forms an admirable protecting membrane, being tough 

 and firm, and at the same time very pliaole ; this is its 

 most important function. The skin is also an organ of 

 respiration, for not only are water and organic waste 

 products eliminated through the capillaries of the skin, 

 but quite a large amount of oxygen is taken in through 

 it. In certain diseases the patient is immersed in a 

 warm nutrient bath, as milk, and enough food may 

 enter the blood through the skin to nourish the body. 

 We may then call it an organ of absorption. It is also 

 the organ of touch and temperature. Because it does so 

 many things it should be given special care. How can 

 we care for the skin ? There are really only two impor- 

 tant things to bear in mind. One is regular bathing 

 and the other proper clothing. Of course the kind and 

 amount of food, exercise, and rest, as well as the gen- 

 eral condition of the body, are important in keeping the 

 skin in a good, healthy condition. 



118. Bathing. The value of bathing as a sanitary 

 measure is not sufficiently understood and appreciated 

 at present by most people. Let us see what some of 

 the results are. In the first place bathing serves to 

 cleanse the skin from dirt, oils, and waste matters that 

 continually accumulate on it. The perspiration pores 

 may be closed up if all such matter is not washed off. 

 Keeping the pores open and the skin clean aids very 

 much in preventing colds, fevers, skin eruptions, and 



