COVERING OF THE HOUSE. 143 



filthy and bad habits, the hair becomes matted 

 and worse than matted together, and a terrible 

 disease ensues, called plica polonica. But in 

 all countries, not only the hair, but the health 

 in general, suffers more or less, if we long 

 neglect cleanliness of any part of our bodies. 



As to the nails, I can only say that they are 

 intended to brace or support the balls of the 

 fingers, so that we can use them the better 

 in examining bodies by the sense of touch. 

 Hence one reason why they should not be 

 pared too closely ; and hence, too, the reason 

 why, when they are pared too closely, the 

 ends of the fingers often become more or less 

 crooked. 



