194 



OUR BODIES AND HOW WE LIVE 



262. The Oil Glands. 



clustered together like 



FIG. 121. Section of Lower 

 Portion of a Hair and Hair 

 Follicle. 



Highly magnified. 



A, membrane of hair follicle, 

 showing cells with nuclei and 

 pigmentary granules ; B, exter- 

 nal lining of root sheath ; C, 

 internal lining of root sheath ; 

 D, cortical or fibrous portion 

 of hair shaft ; E, medullary por- 

 tion (pith) of shaft; F, hair 

 bulb, showing its development 

 from cells. 



The oil glands are little round sacs 



a bunch of grapes, with a tube 



which opens into the hair follicles. 



Generally there are two to each 

 hair, but in some places there are 

 from four to eight araund a hair, 

 making a kind of collar about it. 

 These glands furnish a natural 

 dressing for the hair and keep it 

 moist and glossy. They also keep 

 the surface of the skin soft and 

 flexible. 



In some places the oil glands, 

 as upon the nose, chin, and fore- 

 head, are large, and the hairs very 

 small ; hence it often occurs that 

 they open directly upon the skin. 

 In these openings the oil is likely 

 to collect and become hard. 



Bits of dust get into these 

 glands, acting like plugs, and 

 show themselves as small black 

 specks, incorrectly called "flesh 

 worms," because of the resem- 

 blance which these little masses 



nothing left to support the side of the toe, and the pressure of the shoe 

 then causes the fleshy parts to ride up over the side of the nail, and as the 

 latter grows it has to cut its w r ay into soft parts, for it has nowhere else to go. 

 The wound so caused cannot heal, for the sharp side of the nail is always 

 cutting farther into it and producing irritation. Soon it becomes inflamed ; 

 then matter forms, " proud flesh " grows up over the side, and a most pain- 

 ful and crippling condition may result. Home treatment often makes bad 

 matters worse. A chiropodist's services are often needed. 



