A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene Part 46

When should bathing be performed? 702. How often should we bathe? 703.

What is said of bathing in disease? Who should direct the kind of bath proper in different diseases? 704. Were baths dedicated by the ancients?

705. The AIR is an agent of importance in the functions of the skin.

It imparts to this membrane oxygen, and receives from it carbonic acid. It likewise removes from it a large portion of the perspiration and the more fluid portions of the oily secretion. In order that the air may accomplish these ends, it is necessary that it come in contact with the body. This is one of the many reasons why we should wear loose and porous clothing.

706. Again, the air should be pure, and free from redundant moisture.

In the warm mornings of July and August, the air is loaded with moisture and impurities, and the perspirable matter is not removed from the system as it is when the air is pure and dry. This is the cause of the general la.s.situde that is experienced during such mornings. As soon as the fog is dispelled, these unpleasant sensations are removed. To sustain the functions of the skin in a healthy state, the parlor, kitchen, sleeping-room, school-house, and work-shop, should be well ventilated. The blood of the system will be purer, and its color of a brighter scarlet, if the skin is surrounded by fresh and pure air, than when it is foul or moist.

707. The LIGHT permeating the skin, not only exercises a salutary influence upon this membrane, but upon the blood, and, through this fluid, upon the whole system. For this reason, the kitchen and the sitting-room, which are the apartments most used by ladies, should be selected from the most pleasant and well-lighted rooms in the house.

On the other hand, dark rooms and damp cellar-kitchens should be avoided, as exercising an injurious influence upon both body and mind.

708. The dark, damp rooms, so much used in cities and large villages, by indigent families and domestics, are fruitful causes of disease, as well as of vice, poverty, and suffering. Common observation shows that solar light also exercises much influence upon the vigor and color of vegetables. Plants that are kept in well-lighted rooms, have darker and more brilliant colors than those that grow in darkened apartments.

705. Give the reasons why pure air should be supplied to the skin.

706. What is the cause of the general la.s.situde in a damp, warm morning? 707. Show the salutary effects of light on the skin. 708.

What is one cause of disease and suffering in large villages?

709. BURNS and SCALDS are terms applied to those conditions of the skin which are produced by the application of an undue amount of heat, which changes the action of its vessels.

710. A small degree of heat will irritate the nerves, and cause an increased action of the blood-vessels. This is attended with severe smarting pain, and will be followed by the deposition of serum under the cuticle, unless applications are made immediately, to prevent vesication, or blistering. To prevent or suppress this state of arterial action, wet some folds of cotton or woollen cloth with cold water, and apply them to the parts scalded; continue to apply cold water, so as to steadily maintain the low temperature of the applications, as long as the _smarting pain_ is experienced. The steady application of cold dressing also tends to prevent an increased action of the blood-vessels, and will suppress it, if it already exist.

711. When blisters are formed, the cuticle is separated from the other tissues of the skin by the effusion of serum. In all cases, if this layer of the skin is not removed, a small opening should be made in the raised cuticle, by which the serum deposited may be removed. Under such circ.u.mstances, never remove the cuticle, as it makes the best possible covering for the blood-vessels and nerves of the true skin.

The cold water dressing, recommended in the preceding paragraph, may then be applied as long as the smarting sensation continues. After the pain has subsided, the blistered part may be covered by a patch of cotton or linen cloth, upon which an ointment, made of lard and bees-wax, has been spread.

709. To what condition of the skin are the terms burns and scalds applied? 710. What is the effect when only a small degree of heat is applied to the skin? How can vesication be prevented? 711. What should be the treatment when blisters are formed?

712. If the cuticle has been removed, there will be much suffering, because the nerves are unduly stimulated by the air. The cuticle is the sheath or covering of the vessels and nerves of the skin, and when it is removed, a subst.i.tute should be applied. This subst.i.tute should be soothing, and cover the denuded surface. Linseed-meal or ground slippery-elm bark poultice, fresh cream, or lard and bees-wax, spread upon linen or cotton cloth, would make a good dressing. When dressings are applied, they should not be removed until they become dry and irritating.

713. If there is much suffering, administer to an adult from twenty-five to sixty drops of laudanum, according to the severity of the pain. If the patient is a child, from fifteen drops to a tea-spoonful of paregoric may be administered. When there is much prostration, some hot peppermint tea or other stimulant may be found necessary to bring on reaction.

714. The hands, feet, ears, &c., are subject, in cold lat.i.tudes, to be _frozen_, or _frost-bitten_. This may occur when the patient, at the moment, is not aware of it. The part affected at first a.s.sumes a dull red color, which gradually gives place to a pale, waxy appearance, and becomes quite insensible. The first thing to be done in such cases, is to restablish circulation. This should be effected very gradually. If a large quant.i.ty of blood is thrown suddenly into the chilled and debilitated vessels of the frozen part, inflammation may be produced that will destroy the vitality of the limb.

712. That should be the treatment if the cuticle has been removed? How often should the dressing of burns be removed? 713. What may be necessary when there is much suffering? 714. What is the appearance of limbs while freezing? How should the circulation be at first restablished? What should be avoided?

715. The circulation and sensibility may be restored by rubbing the frozen limb, with snow, or, when this is not to be obtained, cold water; but snow is always to be preferred. The fire should be avoided; and it would be better for the patient to be kept in a cold room, for a time, where there is no fire, or where the temperature is moderate.

716. When a person is found benumbed with cold, and almost or quite insensible, he should be taken into a cold room, the clothing removed, and friction commenced and continued for some time, with _snow_. When warmth begins to be restored, the individual should be rubbed with dry flannel, and the friction continued until reaction takes place.

_Observation._ When the toes and heels have been repeatedly chilled, there may be produced a disease called _chilblains_. This affection is attended with tenderness of the parts, accompanied with a peculiar and troublesome itching. The prevention of this disease is in wearing warm hose and thick shoes of ample size. Bathing the feet morning and evening is also a prevention of this disagreeable affection. When chilblains exist, apply cold water, warm camphorated spirits, or turpentine linament.

715. How may the circulation and sensibility be restored? 716. What treatment should be adopted when a person is benumbed with cold? What treatment should be adopted when warmth begins to be restored? What is said of chilblains?

CHAPTER x.x.xV.

APPENDAGES OF THE SKIN.

717. The HAIRS are appendages of the skin, and, like the cuticle, they are a product of secretion. They have no blood-vessels or nerves, and, consequently, no vitality. The hairs take their origin from the cellular membrane, in the form of bulbs. Each hair is enclosed beneath the surface by a vascular secretory follicle, which regulates its form during growth. In texture, it is dense, and h.o.m.ogeneous toward the circ.u.mference, and porous and cellular in the centre, like the pith of a plant. Every hair has on its surface pointed barbs, arranged in a spiral manner, and directed toward the root of the hair; so that, if a hair be rolled between the fingers, it moves only in one direction.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 118. The hair follicle (1) is represented as imbedded in the cellular membrane, (2,) which is situated beneath the skin. 3, 3, The membranous sac, which has a narrow neck, opening externally by a contracted orifice, through which the hair (4) pa.s.ses. Its internal surface is smooth, and not adherent to the hair, but separated from it by a reddish fluid. From the bottom of the sac (5) the pulp of the hair arises, and pa.s.ses through the skin at 6.]

717-723. _Describe the appendages of the skin._ 717. Why have not hairs vitality? Where do they take their origin? Give their structure.

What is represented by fig. 118?

718. The color of the hair varies in different individuals, and is generally supposed to depend on the fluids contained in the pith.

There are two causes which act in changing the hair gray. The first is, defective secretion of the coloring fluid. The second is, the ca.n.a.ls, which convey the fluid into the hair, become obliterated. In the first instance, the hair will remain; in the second, it dies, and drops out; the cuticle of the scalp grows over the ca.n.a.l, which is soon obliterated, and the head becomes bald.

_Observation._ It is related that the hair of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, and others, from excessive mental agitation, changed from black to gray in a single night. This is not strictly true; the secretion may be arrested, but that already deposited in the pith will require days or weeks to be removed.

719. Upon the upper part of the head, the oil-tubes open into the hair-sacs; consequently, the secretion of the oil-glands is spread over the surface of the hair, and not upon the cuticle. This is the cause of the dry, white, branny scales, called "scurf," or "dandruff,"

upon the head. This is natural, and cannot be prevented. When scurf exists, the only necessary application to remove it, is the frequent use of the hair-brush, and washing with pure water.

_Observation._ The secretion of the oil-glands may become impacted around the hairs as they issue from the skin, and thus prevent their outward movement in growing. The pressure of the matter deposited at their bulbs will then cause itching. The comb and the brush may be used to remove the impacted matter, and relieve the disagreeable sensation.

720. The oil is most abundant near the roots of the hair A free use of the brush spreads it along the hairs, and gives them a smooth, glossy appearance. Soap should rarely be used in washing the head, as it will remove the oil which is essential to the health and appearance of the hair.

718. Upon what does the color of the hair depend? What are the causes of the hair becoming gray? What is the cause of the hair dropping out?

What is related of Marie Antoinette? 719. How is "dandruff" on the scalp produced? What is the only necessary application to remove it?

Give observation. 720. Where is the oil of the hair most abundant?