Atlas of diseases of the skin : including an epitome of pathology and treatment / by Franz Mraček ; authorized translation from the German ; edited by Henry W. Stelwagon.

  • Mraček, Franz, 1848-1908.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Atlas of diseases of the skin : including an epitome of pathology and treatment / by Franz Mraček ; authorized translation from the German ; edited by Henry W. Stelwagon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    INTRODUCTION. The successful study of skin-diseases presupposes an exact anatomic knowledge of the skin, its appendages, physiologic functions, and reciprocal relations to other organs. Owing to limited space, we cannot devote a sec- tion to this subject; and this can indeed be studied more readily and satisfactorily in the larger works on derma- tology, the handbooks on anatomy and physiology, etc., which treat of this subject. We would only emphasize especially that the skin belongs to the group of the most im])ortant organs of the body, and participates intimately in the functions of the entire organism ; consequently, morbid changes in the skin may give rise to decided dis- turbances in the economy of the organism, and, vice ?;ers4, diseases of internal organs may lead to pathologic changes in the skin. The general integument, therefore, should not be regarded as being solely intended for pro- tection ; nor looked upon, according to popular view, as an unimportant leathery cover. The skin serves, it is true, as an organ of protection in the mechanical sense of the word ; but it also possesses an important function in regulating the giving off of heat, and is itself an organ of secretion in which cutaneous resjnration (the giving off of carbonic acud and water) also plays a role; altliough its power of absorption is verv limited, it may under certain circumstances be not unim- ])ortant. Finally, the skin serves as an organ of touch, through wliich arise common sensation, the sense of local- ity or space.