C I°4 ] • 
Proposition I. 
The Colour of white People proceeds from the Colour 
which the Epidermis tranfmits ; that is> from the 
Colour of the Tarts under the Epidermis, rather 
than from any Colour of its own. 
The Truth of this Propofition will plainly appear 
to thofc, who confider, that the Colour of white 
People is always more or lefs clear or vivid, as the 
Skin is thinner or thicker, finer or coarfer j that is, 
as it is more or lefs adapted to tranfmit the Colour 
of the white Parts below it. Thefe Parts are the 
Parenchyma of the Skin, Corpus reticulare , Papilla 
nervofe , the limpid and clear Juices contained in the 
Veflels, and perhaps the inner Epidermis itfelf may 
appear thro’ its outer porous Coverlet ; all which 
Parts we know are white, and are what appear fo 
in white People. 
But this will be better confirmed, from the follow- 
ing Confidcrations ; i . The Palms of the Hands, Lips, 
&c. where the Epidermis and Skin are fo thin, as 
to tranfmit the Colour from any thing below them, 
appear red, or of the Colour of the red Blood under 
them } efpecially in thofe in whom the Skin is fine 
and thin but where the Skin is thick and coarfe, 
thofe Parts appear almoft of the fame Colour with 
the reft of the Body. 2 . The Blulhings of the Cheeks, 
and their Rednefs in Fevers, feem to be another Proof 
of this Caufe of their Colour ; for, in a Moment, 
they change from a pale to a deep Red ; but no one 
will imagine, that the Epidermis then changes its 
Colour, or Power of rene&ing the Rays of Light ; 
but 
