CHAP. III. Of the utmost skinne or Cuticle.
THe skinne being the first part, and spred over all the body, is twofold, that * 1.1 is, the true, and bastard skinne. The true is called by the Greekes Derma, which may almost every where be pulled from the parts lying under it, which it invests; except in the face, eares, the palmes of the hands, soles of the feete, fingers, and privities, where it stickes so close that it cannot be sepa∣rated.
The bastard (which first of all wee will declare, because it first presents it selfe to our sight) is by the Greekes called Epidermis; because it covers the true skinne, they terme it commonly the Cuticle. The substance of it is excrementitious, and as it * 1.2 were a certaine drie flouring, or production of the true skinne. That it drawes not its substance from the seede is apparent by this, that as it is easily lost, so it is easily repaired, which happens not in parts truly spermaticall. This utmost thinne skinne, or cuticle, may two manner of wayes be made apparent by it selfe, and separated from the other, as by burning with fire, or ardent heate of the Sunne (in some de∣licate bodies, and such as are not accustomed to be conversant in Sun-shine.) The quantitie in thicknesse is very small; but the extent is most large, because it covers * 1.3 all the skinne; the figure of it is round, and long, like those parts which it invests. * 1.4 The composure of it is obscure; yet because this Cuticle is the excrement of the true skinne, wee say it hath its matter from the excrementitious superfluitie of the nerves, veines, arteries, and substance of the true skinne.
It is in number one, like as the true skinne which it outwardly covers, that it might be a medium betweene the object, and fixed facultie of touching, diffused o∣ver * 1.5 all the true skinne which every where lies under it. For the temperature, by the common consent of Physitions, it is in the midst of all excesse; for that seeing it is * 1.6 the medium betweene the object and facultie, if it should be hotter, colder, moister, or drier, it would deceive the facultie by exhibiting all objects, not as they are of themselves, but as it should be; no otherwise than as to such as looke through red or greene spectacles, all things appearered, or greene. Wherefore for this reason it was convenient the cuticle should be void of all sense. It hath no action in the body; but it hath use, for it preserves and beautifies the true skin; for it seemes to be given by the singular indulgence of nature, to be a muniment and ornament, to the true * 1.7 skinne. This providence of nature, the industrie of some Artizans (or rather Curti∣zans) doth imitate, who for to seeme more beautifull, doe smooth and polish it. By this you may understand; that not all the parts of the body have action, yet have they their use, because, according to Aristotles opinion; Nature hath made nothing in vaine. Also you must note that this thinne skinne, or cuticle being lost, may eve∣rie where be regenerated, unlesse in the place which is covered with a scarre. For * 1.8 here the true skinne being deficient, both the matter and former facultie of the cuti∣cle is wanting.