General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 3 (of 3)Bichat, Xavier
Science
General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Bichat, Xavier
Human anatomy; Human physiology
It is the same with the human beard. This
coincidence would alone prove that the use of this last is to serve
for an external character to the male sex. The eunuch, whose powers are
feeble, loses also oftentimes much of his beard.
Such are our prejudices in regard to the idea we form of beauty, that
we ridicule what is really and absolutely so, for that is certainly
so which indicates organic perfection. A peacock without his tail of
emeralds, a ram or a stag without their horns, displease us; why does
not man without his beard?
II. _Of the Pilous System of the Trunk._
The hairs on the trunk are very variable. Some men appear as it were
shaggy, whilst others are almost without hairs. There are more of them
generally on the anterior than on the posterior part of the trunk. It
is principally along the linea alba and upon the chest, that they are
found in man. This last part is in general destitute of them in woman,
who has usually very few on the trunk.
Both sexes have a very considerable quantity on the genital parts. They
are there, as I have said, of the nature of the beard. Less frequently
flaxen than the hair of the head, as frequently of a bright red, they
are most usually black. They are, next to the beard, the longest hairs.
They have generally no determinate direction; each hair almost has a
different one. Few animals, like man, exhibit this excess of hair upon
the genital parts. There is a great difference in individuals as to its
quantity. The blackness and abundance coincide in general with strength.
III. _Pilous System of the Extremities._
Man has many hairs upon the whole surface of his extremities. The
proportion of number is nearly the same in all; but the length varies
very much; in some, they form only a down; in others, they are a little
longer; whilst in others, they are nearly of an inch in length, reach
over each other, and give the extremities a shaggy appearance.
At the top of the superior extremities, there is in the hollow of the
axilla a collection of hairs which are longer than the others, and are
nearly of the nature of those of the genital parts. Nothing similar is
seen on the inferior extremities.
The pilous system does not exist on the internal part of the arm and
fore-arm in many men, in whom we see it only behind and on the sides.
It is more uniform on the inferior extremities. The back of the foot
and hand always have hairs. They are never seen on the sole of the one
or the palm of the other; a circumstance of essential advantage to the
perfection of touch.
ARTICLE SECOND.
ORGANIZATION OF THE PILOUS SYSTEM.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account