and Consumptions, it many times grows thick. 4. Be∣ing cut or torne, it sends forth no Blood. 5. It is not of a red color, &c.
Nor are the Excrements of any Dige∣stion, the matter thereof. Not the Excrements of the first or second dige∣stion; for how should it be made of Dung, Urin or Gall? Nor the Excre∣ments of the third, For the third Digestion or Con∣coction hath a threefold Excrement. 1. Vaporous and thin which Expires. 2. Thin, but more solid then the former, of a waterish substance, such as are Ichors and Wheyish humors, which by their sharpness and Acrimony, would sooner hinder the Generation of the Scarf-skin, or corrode the same after it is generated. 3. Thick, Clammy, and sticking fast, which Archangelus and Laurentius, do suppose to be dried and turned into the Scarf-skin, and they demonstrate the same from the filth which is, in bathing, scraped from the foles of the Feet. And if their opinion were true, the Scarf-skin would come off in Baths.
And therefore the matter thereof is another Excrement, viz. an Oyly, Thick, Clammy, and moist vapor (for of dry Exhalations the Hair is made) proceeding from the Skin and Members under the same. So we see in a Skillet of Water-gruel, a Skin grows over the top of the Gruel, being mad, of the vapors thereout ascending, con∣densed by cold.
Now the Scarf-skin is bred, partly in the womb with the Skin, and partly without the Womb. Within, For 1. So there are the rudiments and beginnings of Hair, Teeth, Nails in the Child in the Womb, 2. Without the Scarf-skin, the skin would be moist, and the Humor would sweat out with pain, as in gal∣lings and where Phoenigmi are applied. 3. Experience shews, that the Scarf-skin is somewhat apparent in an Abortion, and may be separated by some fretting Hu∣midity. But whiles the Child is in the Womb, it is exceeding tender, soft, and but as yet begun to be made: because there is not in the Womb so much cold, only a small degree springing from the serous humor which surrounds the Child. But it receives its Com∣plement and perfection without the Womb, from the coldness of the Air, which doth more condense and dry, which is the Cause that the skin of all New-born In∣fants looks red.
Wherefore the remote and internal Efficient thereof is in the inward heat of the Body, thrusting forth a vapor into the surface thereof, as Exhalations are made by the suns heat. The next and external, is the coldness of somebody, as the Air, &c. compact∣ing, and thickning. So Gruel, Hot milk, and other hot dishes of meat, have a skin growing over them: sometimes also the dryness of the Ambient Air, consu∣ming the external humor, and compacting the remain∣ders of the matter. Now by how much the said vapor is more Earthy and Clammy, by so much more solid is that which is bred thereof.
The Vse thereof is to defend the Skin. And therefore 'tis somwhat hard, howbeit exceeding thin and yet transparent, like the transparent skins of Onions; least if it were thicker, the skin should not feel 〈…〉〈…〉 it is somtimes bard and brauny, in the Hands 〈…〉〈…〉 by reason 〈…〉〈…〉 of Labor and Travel.
〈…〉〈…〉 ••••d more compact than 〈…〉〈…〉 And therefore it is that watery pustules pass through the Skin but not the Scarf-skin. Yet not over close and compact, least it should hinder the bodies transpiration And it is close wrought, not only to defend the parts under it but that also too great an efflux of Vapor, Blood, Spirit and heat might not happen. For it is the cover of the Mouths and extremities of the Vessels. And therefore those cannot live in good health that are born without a Scarf-skin; as was seen in Lewes the King of Bohemia and Hungaria, who became gray hair'd while he was but a Boy.
It is of a white color, and therefore of a cold and dry temper and quite void of Blood, For being torn or cut, it sends forth no Blood. Nor is it nourished by Blood, as Lauremberg and Sperlinger would have it; for it is not intrinfically nourished by attraction of its proper Ali∣ment; but by addition of parts▪ the vapor growing into the like nature of the Scarf-skin, as Casserus rightly disputes, The Scarf-skin is black in Blackmores, but not the skin beneath it.
As for number: there is but one Scarf∣skin; only there was once two found by Aquapendent: the one being strongly fastned in the pores of the skin, and inseperable: the other seperable without offence to the skin. Which happens in some only, not in all parts of the Body. Also Laurembergius, in applying Vesicatories, found the Scarf-skin double; but that is a rare case, for that Vesicatories do peitce unto the skin is apparent from the humor dropping out, and the pain. In brawny Callosities, indeed there are many little skins, as it were the skins of Onyons; but they are besides nature, whose Generation and cure is delivered by Fallopius.
In point of Connexion, it sticks so close to the Skin of a man, while he is alive, as if it were one continued body therewith. Yet many times it is cast off as snakes and serpents cast their skins, which Felix Platerus tells us did happen to him∣self; and which happens in burning Feavers and the small Pox. Salmuth observed as much in some Gouty persons, in an Ague, and some other cases. In dead persons 'tis separated by a Candle, or scalding Water: in living Bodies with Phoenigmi. In the Nut of the Yard, it sticks not to the skin, but to the flesh.