much food. Some persons always express wonder when they see any one very thin and emaciated after a severe fit of sickness; they would not be thus surprised if they took into consideration the fact that the fat has all been consumed, and that they must eat heartily again, to make more fat to cover their bones and muscles.

75. There are some animals, like the bat and bear, which, as soon as cold weather approaches, retreat into their houses or dens, and remain there all winter in a sleepy, torpid state. They take no food during this time; but their bodies are nourished by the fat, so that when they awake in the spring they are very thin and poor. Sometimes the fat makes its appearance on the outer surface of the skin, and forms pimples. Too much fat is unhealthy, and prevents a free circulation of the blood.

74. Should we be surprised to see the fat gone after a fit of sickness? 75. In what state do the bears and bats live during the winter? What is their appearance in the spring? What are pimples? Does the fat make us healthy?

CHAPTER III.

SKIN.

1. If we had bones and the red muscles only for a body, we should present rather a rough and ugly appearance; but we have a covering drawn over the muscles, called the skin, which conceals them from view. Perhaps you have never thought much about the skin, but have merely supposed, as many undoubtedly have, that it is only a simple substance. This is all that some either think or care about it; but they are quite mistaken in regard to the importance of our knowledge respecting it.

2. The skin is sometimes soft, smooth, and delicate; then it is thick and wrinkled, as in the palms of the hand, or the soles of the feet. It consists of three coats or membranes, which I will describe.

The first is called the cuticle or epidermis. This is a very thin covering, and is seen when a blister is raised. It is this layer that peels off in cases of fever. This covering is soft or hard, and becomes so by the manner we use it. If the cuticle were as soft on the feet as we find it to be on the hands, little boys could never run barefooted as they do; but it becomes almost as tough

What is the subject of chapter third?

1. Where is the skin situated ? How should we appear if our bodies were composed of bones and muscles only? What opinion do some persons entertain respecting the skin? 2. Is the skin always of the same thickness? Of how many coats does it consist? What is the first? Describe the cuticle. How does the cuticle become hard?

as leather. A great deal, however, depends on the manner we use this, as well as every other part of the body; for the stage-driver's hands, that are exposed to every variety of storm, are composed of the same material as that of the delicate lady who always uses a muff.

The cuticle on the foot of an infant is as soft and tender as on any part of the body, and does not become hard till the child has walked.

3. This thin cuticle is transparent—which means that we can look through it as we can through glass and water—and has little pores, but no veins or blood-vessels. This skin continued, makes our finger-nails, which protect the ends of the fingers, as the cuticle does the skin.

4. Immediately underneath the cuticle is another layer, called the rete mucosum. There is more feeling in this layer than in the first. Spread over this skin is what is called the coloring matter. It is a great mistake to suppose that because some have a black, and others white, and others red complexions, that the whole blood and skin are of different colors. The only difference between the blackest person who ever lived and the whitest, is in this liquid on the surface of the second skin, which is either black, or white, or red.

5. The third layer is called, to give you another hard name, the vera cutis, or the true skin. Over this are

2. What constitutes the difference between the hand of the lady and that of the stage-driver? Is the cuticle naturally harder on the feet and hands than elsewhere? How does it become so? 3. What farther can you say about the cuticle? What are the finger-nails, and what is their use? 4. What is the second layer of the skin? What is meant by color ing matter? What constitutes the difference in color among individuals? 5. What is the third layer of the skin?

little nerves, which run backward and forward in all directions, proceeding to the brain, and produce all the pain or sensation which we feel when hurt or injured.

6. When the surgeon takes off a limb, it is not in cutting the bone-if the bone be in a healthy state-that we experience pain, but only when the third skin is cut; and it is for this reason, that it is called the true skin. When we prick ourselves with a pin or needle, we draw blood, how slight soever the wound, because the two outer skins are so thin and delicate that the third feels the touch instantaneously, and the nerves of feeling being so numerous, pass off to the spinal marrow in the spine, and thence to the brain or mind, so that we feel every touch.

This is so, because, injured in any way,

7. You have probably noticed that some persons have scars on their bodies from cuts or burns, and that these remain as long as they live. when the third layer, or true skin, is it never grows again; so when we cut or burn it, the wound may heal, but the scar will always remain. You frequently hear people say that children will “out-grow scars. They sometimes do, it is very true, disappear; but it is when the two outer skins only are affected, that the scar will be removed; for these two skins can be formed again from the blood.

8. There are many who receive accidents when they are quite young, and though the hand, or limb, or part of the body affected, increases very much in size, yet

5. What produces pain or sensation? 6. What causes pain when a limb is cut off? Why do we feel the prick of a needle? 7. Why do scars frequently remain on the body? When do scars sometimes disappear? 8. Do not children ever "out-grow" scars?

there will always be a scar left. There will frequently be white spots on the bodies of negroes, occasioned by wounds in the third skin, and the removal of some of the coloring matter on the second, which does not grow again.

9. Here again we see how wonderfully good our Creator was, in furnishing a covering for this part, which is so sensitive to every impression, and which, if exposed, would continually be in danger of injury at every step we take, but which is now shielded, as it were, from heat and cold, and all harm.

10. There are little cells or pores on the outer surface, which permit the sweat or perspiration to pass through; and in this way many diseases which lurk about our bodies are continually passing off. This enables us to endure the very great heat of summer; for this constant perspiration produces a moisture which cools the air.

11. There is then one very important thing for us to do, to keep this skin in order, and what do you think it is, children? The little pores are very small, so that when there is a blister formed, and filled with water, which puffs up the cuticle, the water cannot escape through them.

That very important thing for all to remember, is, to bathe the whole body, at least once every day, that the pores may not be closed by the perspiration which passes off.

8. Why do we occasionally see white spots on the bodies of negroes? 9. How is the goodness of our Creator exhibited in the construction of the skin? 10. What is the use of the little cells on the surface of the skin? 11. What important thing have we to do? What would be the result if the pores of the skin were to close?