240 SKIN, HAIR, AND NAILS, BY ALFRED BIESIADECKI. 



of the rete mucosum, which, in skin that has been macerated 

 for some time, can be withdrawn, in company with the epidermis, 

 as a fine fibre (Eichhorn's fibre). It here possesses a special 

 wall, that is to be regarded as a prolongation of the membrane 

 investing the corium. 



The rete mucosum is continued down the tube as a layer 

 composed of many tiers of cells, that progressively diminish in 

 thickness, till in the lower part of the corium they ultimately 

 pass into the enchyma cells. The duct in its passage through 

 the corium is accompanied by numerous connective-tissue 

 fibres and connective- tissue corpuscles running parallel to it, 

 and usually also by two small bloodvessels. 



Langerhans (loc. cit.} describes structures situated between the 

 cells lining the upper part of the duct, belonging to the nervous 

 system, similar to those found in the mucous layer. 



According to the estimates of Krause, there are 2,736 sweat 

 glands in every square inch of the palm of the hand ; 2,685 on 

 the sole of the foot ; 1,490 on the dorsum of the hand ; 1,303 

 on the neck and forehead ; 417 on the back and buttock. The 

 sweat glands of the axilla cannot be directly compared, as 

 regards their number, with those of other parts of the body, on 

 account of their remarkable size. 



The development of the sweat glands commences at about 

 the fifth month of pregnancy with the formation of a flask- 

 like process of the rete mucosum, that dips into the corium, 

 terminates in a swollen bulbous manner, and is composed of 

 epithelial cells. At the seventh month the gland assumes an 

 elongated tubular form, the blind end being bent and widened 

 like a retort. During the last months of pregnancy this end 

 becomes contorted, and forms the glomerulus of the gland. 



MUSCULAR TISSUE OF THE SKIN. 



Striated or voluntary muscular fibres only reach the skin 

 from the deeper-lying parts in the face, the beard, and nose, 

 ascending sometimes obliquely, sometimes vertically, between 

 the hairs and the sebaceous follicles, to terminate in the 

 corium. 



Smooth muscular fibres are arranged in two different 



