DISEASES OF THE SKIN. 



By M. R. TRUMBOWER, D. V. S., Sterling, 111. 



The skin consists of two parts, the epidermis or cuticle, and the der- 

 mis, cutis vera or corium. . 



The epidermis, cuticle, or scarf skin, is an epithelial structure, form- 

 ing a protective covering to the corium. It varies in thickness, is quite 

 insensible and nonvascular, and consists of agglutinated cells 5 these 

 cells vary in form, the deep layers being columnar, those above rounded, 

 flat on the free surface, finally dry, desquamating membranous or horny 

 scales. 



The epidermis is divided into a firm and transparent superficial and 

 a deep soft layer. The latter is the rete mucosuni, in whose cells the 

 pigment exists -which gives color to the skin. The deep surface of the 

 epidermis is accurately molded on the papillary layer of the true skin, 

 and, when removed by maceration, presents depressions which corre- 

 spond to the elevations on the dermis. From the cuticle tubular pro- 

 longations pass into the sebaceous and sudorific glands; thus the en- 

 tire surface of the body is inclosed by the cuticle. 



The dermitt, or true skin, is vascular and highly sensitive, being the 

 seat of touch. It is covered by epidermis, and attached to the under- 

 lying parts by a layer of areolar tissue, which usually contains fat, 

 hence called pannictihtg adipoftutt. The cutis consists of fibro-areolar 

 tissue and vessels of supply. It is divided into two layers, the deep or 

 tme corium and the upper or papillary. The corium consists of strong 

 interlacing fibrous bands, chiefly white; its meshes are larger and more 

 open towards the attached surface, giving lodgment to the sweat glands 

 ami fat. The papillary or superficial layer is formed of a scries of small 

 conical eminences or papilla*, which are highly sensitive, and consist 

 of a homogenous transparent tissue. The blood vessels form dense 

 capillary ple.xuscs in the corium, terminating by loops in the papilla*. 

 The papillary nerves run in a waving manner, usually terminating in 

 loops. 



Hair is an appendage of the skin and forms its external covering. 

 It is a special modification of epidermis, having the same essential 

 structure. It consists of a root, shaft, and point. The root has a bulb- 



