Part 46 (2/2)

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 was.h.i.+ng 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 was.h.i.+ng 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?

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