Section 100. PERSPIRATION.
Reading edition
Perspiration is the evacuation[1] of the juices of the body through the pores of the skin. It has been calculated (S. 4, N. 4) that there are[2] above three hundred millions of pores in the glands of the skin which covers the body of a middle-sized man. Through these pores more than one half[3] of what we eat and drink passes off[4] by[5] insensible[6] perspiration. If we consume eight pounds of food in[7] a day (App. § 9; S. 27, N. 8), five pounds of it (S. 4, N. 5, B) are insensibly discharged[8] by perspiration. During[9] a night of seven hours’ sleep we perspire about two[10] pounds and a half. At an average we may[11] estimate the discharge[1] by[12] sensible and insensible perspiration at[13] from half an ounce to[14] four ounces per hour. This (Dies) is a most[15] wonderful part[16] of the animal economy, and[17] is absolutely necessary to[18] our health, and even to our very existence.—The Rev. Dr. Dick.