PERSPIRATION. 277 



orifice of the follicle. On the exterior of the base of the follicles, 

 filaments like roots are seen, and nerves and blood-vessels may 

 be traced into it. 



The stem is conoid, and proceeds from the interior of the bulb. 

 Its base is hollow, and embraces the papilla ; very soft, and even 

 fluid where it is in contact with the papilla, which appears to secrete 

 it. The rest is a horny, transparent, almost colourless sheath, and 

 an internal coloured texture, consisting of very delicate filaments, 

 and in some animals of an areolated texture. 



The cuticle just enters the bulb, and is reflected and lost upon 

 the surface of the stem. c 



" The hairs are almost incorruptible, and always anointed by 

 an oily halitus. Of all parts they appear most truly electrical. 

 They are very easily nourished and even reproduced, unless where 

 the skin is diseased/' 



They have been represented destitute of life. But they have 

 turned permanently white in a single night from excessive copu- 

 lation, and from fear and distress of mind. d In illness they 

 often grow soft, and hang about the head. I know a lady whose 

 hair will not keep in curl if she is in the slightest degree indis- 

 posed, and a young gentleman whose profuse curly hair becomes 

 straight under the same circumstances: on the other hand, a 

 case is recorded in which it always curled in a fit of the gout. 6 

 Hair taken from a dead body is said to be unfit for artificial use ; 

 it must be taken from the living : just as intestines taken from 

 animals, not even diseased, but merely driven from a distance to 

 the London markets, are said to be unfit for the strings of musical 

 instruments. Shells are also considered destitute of life ; but they 

 cannot be rendered beautiful, I am told, if the fish dies of disease, 

 or putrefies in them. Lastly, the hair has been so sensible in 

 phrenitis after an injury, that the slightest touch gave severe pain ; 

 and when the surgeon clipped a hair unseen by the patient, this 



d " My hair is grey> but not with years, 

 Nor grew it white in a single night, 

 As men's have grown from sudden fears.*' 



Prisoner of Chilian. 



See Byron's note to these lines, and Dr. Speranza in Dr. Omedei's Annali 

 Universali di Medicina. Feb. 1832. Milan. 

 e Quarterly Journal of Foreign Medicine, No. xvii. 



