ZOOGENY. 393 



integument. It is the proper secernent, in opposition 

 to the intestine, which is the absorbent organ. 



2268. Evaporation is the essential tegumentary pro- 

 cess. 



2269. The product of the evaporation is mucus. 



2270. In the evaporation, however, the mucus be- 

 comes analyzed by the influence of the air and light. 



Epidermis. 



2271. The external mucus exuding from the skin 

 becomes oxydized, the inferior on the contrary reduced ; 

 the oxydized becomes vitreous and transparent. It is 

 the Epidermis. 



2272. With the maximum of oxydation the epidermis 

 passes over into a vitreous transparent horn, e. g. scales. 



2273. The scales, which invest the toes and digits are 

 called claws, and finally become nails. The finger-nail 

 is nothing but a scale, which in this situation has become 

 particularly large and strong. 



2274. That which is reduced beneath the vitrified 

 epidermis determines the colour of the skin. With a 

 demi- oxydation it is uncoloured, appears white. Where 

 the integument is thin, the red colour of the blood ap- 

 pears through it; such integument is therefore white 

 upon the whole, but red in individual places. 



2275. With the most complete reduction effected by 

 the highest operation of light, its substratum or under- 

 layer becomes black. The mucus passes over into 

 reduced carbon. Beneath the vitreous epidermis there 

 is thus a metallic pigmentary membrane. 



Hairs. 



2276. Capillary vessels, which simply convey mucus, 

 but are elongated singly above and from out the cutis, 

 are Hairs. The idea of the hair is a capillary vessel, the 

 contents of which are no longer blood, but reduced mu- 

 cus. It is an indifferent capillary vessel. The hair 

 is hollow and contains an oil, which determines the 

 colour. 



