DIFFUSION OF WATER THROUGH DEAD PLANTAR, PALMAR AND TORSAL HUMAN SKIN AND THROUGH TOE NAILS

Abstract

Since the observations of Erismann¹ in 1875 on the rate of diffusion of water through the skin of breasts and palms, studies of diffusion through dead human skin have been neglected and the rate of diffusion through toe nails has not been studied. In the study of insensible loss of water through the body and especially through the skin, it is important to know the relative ratio of water loss by diffusion through the skin of various portions of the body and nails. MATERIALS AND METHODS The rate of diffusion was measured for dead skin collected from bodies within a few hours (one to twenty-four, usually three to four) after death. Only healthy-looking skin of well nourished nonedematous bodies was used. The skins were collected from the following areas of separate bodies: epigastrium of 9 different bodies, axillas of 5, plantar surfaces of 10, palms of 3,