238 VARIETIES OF COLOUR 



The differences between black and white men in the tex- 

 ture of the rete mucosum are distinctly noted by Blumen- 

 BACH. He states that the native reddish white of the cutis 

 shines through the transparent outer coverings in the white 

 races; wliile in the dark/ the cutaneous pigment is seated 

 in the rete mucosum ; the epidermis, although pale, mani- 

 festly partaking of the tint. He adds, "Quo fuscius reti- 

 culum sit eo crassius quoque et propius ad membranulse sui 

 generis speciem accedens ; quo pellucidius contra, eo tene- 

 rius, et non nisi difflui muci habitum prae se ferens*." 

 Haller t uses a similar contrast ; representing this part in 

 the Negro as " involucrum, crassius quam in Europseis, et 

 ver« membranae simile, cum istis potius mucus sit coactus." 



There is In the Hunterlan collection a portion of white 

 skin with the cuticle turned down : a small portion of a 

 tliin transparent pellicle has been subsequently separated 

 from the cutis. A further examination, particularly In the 

 skins of intermediate tints, will be required in order to 

 settle the point. Although I cannot demonstrate rete muco- 

 sum In the European, I think that there must be under the 

 cuticle some colouring matter : how can we otherwise ac- 

 count for the difference between the fair and the swarthy, 

 or for the remarkable peculiarity of the Albino :|; ? 



science, were well known. At an early age he had distinguished himself as 

 .1 teacher and a writer; and he set the useful example of appealing in all 

 cases to nature, and admitting no statements which he had not personally ve- 

 rified. A brilliant and useful career was just opening before him : in the 

 present state of anatomy in this kingdom, his labours and example would have 

 been singularly useful, 



* De G. H. Var. Nat. sect. iii. ^ 42. 



+ Elem. Physiol, lib. xii. sect. i. ^ 11. 



\ Camper seems to be influenced by similar arguments rather than by 

 direct anatomical evidence, in ascribing a rete mucosum to the white races. 

 " Credibile esse mihi vidctur, omnes homines reticulo simili gaudere, quod, 

 pro diversis regionibus, et in diversis hominibus non modo, scd in eodem, 

 pro partium varietate, diversam superficiem nactum, album, fuscum, vel 

 nigrum apparet. Praeparavi cutis portionem, e latere fccminae emortuae 

 depromptam, cujus facies et pectus nive erant candidiora, in qua reticulum 

 ntcnse fuscum est." Demonstrat. jinatom. Pathol, lib. i. cap. 1. 



He repeats in the same page the common representation of the rote 



