CHAPTER IX 

 THE SKIN AND THE KIDNEYS 



249. How our Bodies are covered. The skin is the out- 

 side covering of the body. We all know how painful and 

 tender any part of the body is when this covering has been 

 torn, cut, blistered, burned, or otherwise hurt. 



Kind nature has given us a firm, elastic, and tight-fitting 

 outside garment. It is easily kept clean, and never wears 

 out. It is soft and thin enough to enable us to feel objects 

 easily, yet thick and strong enough to allow us to do this 

 without pain. 



250. The Skin and its Two Layers. The skin consists of 

 two layers. The outer one has neither blood vessels nor 

 nerves, and is called the cuticle, scarfskin, or epidermis. 



The deeper layer, called the true skin, or dermis, is so 

 highly sensitive that, were it not for the outer layer, we 

 could not endure life. Most of us are familiar with the 

 delicate pink skin which is exposed when the outer skin 

 is removed by a blister, or rubbed off by some slight 

 accident. The surface feels raw, and from it oozes a little 

 clear fluid called " lymph," or perhaps a little blood. Beneath 

 the true skin there is a layer of fat which gives roundness 

 and softness to the figure. 



251. The Scarfskin. The deeper portion of the scarf- 

 skin is constantly producing millions of little cells to take 

 the place of the flat, horny, and lifeless scales of the outer 



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