THE SKIN, 
343 
Another kind of gland is also found in the skin in connection 
with the hairs, and engaged in their nutrition. These glands 
are called the sebaceous glands, inasmuch as they furnish an 
oily or waxy substance to nourish the hairs ; this substance is 
developed in largest quantity inside the ear, where it serves to 
prevent access of dust, insects, &c., to that delicate organ. 
The ducts of these glands are not spiral, and they open gene- 
rally into the hair follicles, or pits which the hair grows out 
of, situated in the subcutaneous areolar tissue. 
There are generally several glands connected with each hair; 
their ducts are frequently inhabited by a very peculiar little 
parasite, by no means a beautiful object when viewed under 
the microscope, but found even in the cleanest and healthiest 
persons, sometimes three or four being in each follicle ; yet they 
are specially found in persons whose skin is torpid in its action, 
an d they multiply in sickness. These glands lubricate the skin, 
and so maintain its elasticity, and they also serve to eliminate 
hydrocarbons from the system ; they are extremely numerous, 
as may be inferred from their connection with the hairs. 
We may here mention briefly the structure of hair, as being 
connected with these follicles. Hair may be regarded as a kind 
of modified cuticle, though it takes its origin much deeper than 
' the cuticle, and even deeper than the true skin. The scales of 
the epidermis descend into the hair follicle, forming its lining, 
and then, at the bottom of the follicle, the cells which on the 
surface would become cuticular scales are changed into a layer 
of imbricated or overlapping scales, which form the cortex or 
bark of the hair ; while the cells which grow from the very 
bottom of the follicle are modified into elongated fibres, and so 
form the inner substance of the hair. 
A very curious and beautiful structure is especially developed 
around the hair follicles and sebiparous glands, consisting of 
minute, quite microscopical muscular fibres, not capable of being 
acted on by the will, but acting involuntarily on the application 
of certain stimulants, external or mental ; cold, fear, anger, 
&c., Avill stimulate these fibres to contraction, and hence, owing 
to their peculiar interlacing around the hair follicles, arises the 
peculiar bristling so well seen in some animals, particularly the 
lion and others of the cat tribe, under the influence of these 
emotions. To this cause also is due what is known as the hair 
standing on end, the first notice of which we have in the Book 
of Job — “ Then a spirit passed before my face ; the hair of my 
flesh stood up.” The creeping of the flesh under the same 
emotions is due to the same cause ; for, although particularly 
well developed around the hah- follicles, these muscular fibres 
are not confined to them, but extend everywhere through the 
skin, and the appearance assumed by the skin under the in- 
