314 IMPOETANCE OF CUTANEOUS EXHALATION. 



moulds were dried, while the floor was red-hot, and a ther- 

 mometer in the air stood at 350 ; and Chabert, the " Fire- 

 king," was in the habit of entering an oven whose temperature 

 was from 400 to 600. It is possible that these feats might 

 be easily matched by many workmen, who are habitually 

 exposed to high temperatures; such as those employed in 

 iron-foundries, glass-houses, and gas-works. 



373. That the power of sustaining a high temperature 

 mainly depends upon the dryness of the atmosphere, is evident 

 from what has just been stated j since, if the perspiration that 

 is poured-forth upon the skin is not carried-off with sufficient 

 rapidity, on account of the previous humidity of the air, the 

 temperature of the body will not be sufficiently kept down. 

 It has been found, from a considerable number of experiments, 

 that when warm-blooded animals are placed in a hot atmos- 

 phere saturated with moisture, the temperature of their bodies 

 is gradually raised 12 or 13 above the natural standard ; and 

 that the consequence is then inevitably fatal. 



374. The amount of fluid exhaled from the skin and lungs 

 ( 343) in twenty-four hours, probably averages about three 

 or four pounds. The largest quantity ever noticed, except 

 under extraordinary circumstances, was 5 Ibs. ; and the smallest, 

 If Ibs. It contains a small quantity of solid animal matter, 

 besides that of the other secretions of the skin which are 

 mingled with it ; and there is good reason to think that this 

 excretion is of much importance, in carrying off certain sub- 

 stances which would be injurious if allowed to remain in the 

 blood. That which is called the Hydrophatic system, proceeds 

 upon the plan of increasing the cutaneous exhalation to a 

 very large amount ; and there seems much evidence, that 

 certain deleterious matters, the presence of which in the blood 

 gives rise to Gout, Rheumatism, &c., are drawn off from it 

 more speedily and certainly in this way, than in any other. 



375. Besides the perspiratory glands, the skin contains 

 Others, which have special functions to perform. Thus in 

 most parts which are liable to rub against each other, we find 

 ft considerable number of sebaceous follicles (fig. 8, a a), which 

 secrete a fatty substance that keeps the skin soft and smooth. 

 Besides these, the skin contains other follicles in particular 

 parts, for secreting peculiar substances ; as, for instance, those 

 which form the cerumen, a bitter waxy substance that is 



