Mikrokosmographia a description of the body of man. Together vvith the controuersies thereto belonging. Collected and translated out of all the best authors of anatomy, especially out of Gasper Bauhinus and Andreas Laurentius. By Helkiah Crooke Doctor of Physicke, physitian to His Maiestie, and his Highnesse professor in anatomy and chyrurgerie. Published by the Kings Maiesties especiall direction and warrant according to the first integrity, as it was originally written by the author.

Of the Cuticle or Skarfe-skin. CHAP. V.

THE first contayning or inuesting part, is the Cuticle, which the Greekes call Epidermis, because it runnes vppon the surface of the true skinne; whereof it is as it were a flowring or creamy production. For whilest Nature in the generation of the skin mingleth bloud with the seede, a moyst vapour of the * 1.1 bloud foaming or frothing vp, and driuen forth by the strength of the heate, is condensed or thickned by the coldnesse of the ayre, and turned into the Cuticle or skarf-skin, for so I thinke wee may properly call it. And this is the reason why in Infants new∣borne, * 1.2 the whole skin looketh red, the Cuticle not being yet formed for want of cold ayre; or at least not sufficiently condensed, as it is after a short time; the aire thickning the cream or froth of the bloud, as wee see in gruell or boyling of paste or starch, a skin, filme or phlegme gathered together of the vapbrous froth that ariseth from the thicke moysture which is by the cold ayre condensed.

This Skarfe-skinne is easily lost by attrition or scalding, and riseth apparantly from the skinne; it is likewise as easily recouered where the skin remayneth sound (for where there * 1.3 is no skin, but onely a scarre or cicatrice, there it will not growe againe) and therefore it is no spermaticall part, because if they perish, they cannot or very hardly againe be restored.

It is wondrous thin (vnlesse it growe Cailus or hard by continuall labour, as wee see it * 1.4 doth in Felt-makers) that it should not dull the sence of the skin vnder it: yet in the palmes of the hands, and the soales of the feete, where it is continually worne and renued againe, it is more crasse and thick. This is that which Serpents cast euery yeare, we call it the slough; * 1.5 men neuer, but vpon long sicknesse or poysons, or the vse of slabbering complexions. It is thighter or more compact then the skin it selfe, whence it is, that those watery humours * 1.6 which are thrust out from the Center to the Circumference of the body, doe easily passe through the skin, but hang often in the Cuticle, and generate Ecthymata, Phlyctides, and those many waterish Pustles which are called hydrea. It is altogether without bloud, be∣cause * 1.7 it receiueth neither veine nor arterie, so that it encreaseth rather by a kind of additi∣on of matter, then by Nutrition.

Insensible it is, that it might defend the skinne vnder it from externall iniuries; as also * 1.8 attemper the exquisite sense of the same, and so becommeth medium tactus, the meane of touching. For sayth Aristotle, all sensation is made by some Meane, none by the immediat touch of the obiect and the instrument. Hence it is that a man cannot see to reade vpon a booke that is layd vpon his eye; because there wanteth the meane betweene the obiect and the instrument of sense, that is, ayre enlightned. In like manner when the Cuticle is off, we cannot distinguish between one Temper and another; because the very gentlest touch of the bared skin breedeth paine, and the sensation is confused, which is distinct when the skarfe-skin is whole.

There is also another vse of it, to couer the open ends of the Capillarie or hairy veines which doe determine in the skin: for if the Cuticle be taken off, the skin vnder doth bleed. Moreouer it is also a couering to the skinne, that the moisture might not indecently or vn∣profitably well or issue out at all times; for in a gall or rub, which is called Intertrigo in which the Cuticle is separated, the skinne is euer moyst.

Lastly, it smootheth and polisheth the roughnesse and inequality of the skin, making it soft, supple and slicke, and so becommeth one of the greatest beauties that nature hath gi∣uen to the body of man. That I cannot but wonder at Columbus, who vtterly forgot the ma∣nifold vses of this Cuticle.

Notes

• * 1.1

  How it is ge∣nerated.
• * 1.2

  Why Infants looke red.
• * 1.3

  It wil not grow vpon a scarre.
• * 1.4

  Why thin.
• * 1.5

  The sough of a snake.
• * 1.6

  The thight∣nes of it mani¦fested.
• * 1.7

  The reason of pustles in the body.
• * 1.8

  The vses of the skarfe-skin. Medium tac∣tus. Lib. ••. de Anim. Text. 114.