Table of Contents
This book is dedicated to my mum, Jayne, and my beautiful daughter, Charlotte
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank Susan Punton for reviewing the text. Also David Haviland and Carl Cutler for their help in the production of this book.
CHAPTER ONE
Epidermal Ephemera
How can an ants head be used to heal a wound?
Even today, some South American tribes use the mandibles of soldier ants to help heal cuts. The skin at the site of the wound is pushed together, and the ant is placed onto it so that its pincers dig into the flesh either side of the wound, like a stitch. Then, the ants body is twisted off, so that only the head remains. If the wound is quite large, many ants may be used to help seal the cut, so that the end result resembles a row of stitches. As unusual as this may sound, this method has proved an effective way of helping wounds to heal. This method also used to be practiced in Africa and India.
How can maggots help to solve crime?
Insects, particularly blowflies and their maggots, can provide important evidence in the investigation of a murder. Adult blowflies have a great sense of smell, and they find the odor of decaying flesh extremely appealing. They colonize dead bodies rapidly after death, and because they are so quick, the size and age of blowfly maggots on a corpse can be used to measure the time, and sometimes the place, of death.
In Scotland in 1935, human remains were found dumped in a small ravine. Blowfly maggots were discovered on the decaying bodies. The remains were later identified as those of the wife and maid of Dr. Buck Ruxton of Lancaster. A doctor estimated the age of the maggots, and this provided a vital clue as to when the murders had taken place. Because of these maggots, Dr. Ruxton was found guilty of the murders and hanged.
The Body Farm in Tennessee is no ordinary farm. It is a center that studies the decomposition of dead bodies using real human corpses. They use bodies that have been donated to science and place them in a variety of situations such as in a car, under water, in a wooded area, buried, and so on, to see what bugs do to the corpses.
Why do we get goose bumps?
Goose bumps occur, when we are cold, because of the contraction of tiny muscles (erector pili muscles) in the skin that cause hairs to stand on end resulting in little bumps. In our hairier days lots of hairs would stand on end and would hold a layer of warm air between the skin and hair. The heat radiating from the skin would warm the trapped air and help to keep us warm.
Also, when our hair stood on end, it might have made us look bigger, or scarier. It is, perhaps, for this reason that we get goose bumps when we feel nervous or angry.
How does Botox work?
One way in which wrinkles are formed is through the contraction of our facial muscles, for example when we smile or squint. Along with other factors, repetitive use of these muscles can lead to the formation of lines on the face. Botox, which is injected into the skin, helps to reduce wrinkles, making the skin appear smoother. The effect of Botox is temporary, and another injection may be needed after just a few months.
Botox is derived from the botulinum toxin A, from the bacterium that produces botulisman often fatal form of food poisoning. Botulism kills its victims by paralyzing the muscles normally used to breathe, causing suffocation. However, a Botox injection doesnt contain any of the botulism bacteria; rather, it contains a tiny amount of a chemical that is produced by the bacteria. Botox treatment appears to be very safe, and was originally used in the 1980s to treat eye disorders including crossed eyes and uncontrollable blinking.
Botox treatment consists of injecting Botox directly into a muscle, temporarily paralyzing it. Botox doesnt harm the muscle itself; instead, it works by affecting the nerves that control the muscle. The muscle becomes paralyzed because the Botox prevents the passing of the nerve messages that normally stimulate the muscle to contract. Botox can also be used to help prevent excessive sweating, and is used on children with cerebral palsy to prevent muscle tension and other symptoms.
What is a collagen injection?
Collagen is a natural substance that is found in our skin, muscles, tendons and bones. It provides structural support in the bodies of humans and animals.
There are various forms of collagen, some of which can be used to help smooth wrinkles or plump up our lips. Bovine collagen is extracted from the skin of dead cows, sterilized and turned into a liquid. It can be injected into a persons lips to enlarge them, or injected under wrinkles to fill them out. However, bovine collagen will eventually be absorbed into the body, which is why the effect lasts only for about three months.
It is not only the skin of dead cows that can be used to help plump up our lips. The filler alloderm is derived from the skin of actual dead people and can be used to create fuller lips. It is made up of thin sheets of freeze-dried human collagen that can be rolled and placed through tiny incisions to fill one lip or both. It is specially treated to reduce the risk of rejection by the body, and to ensure that it is free from disease. Alloderm has been successfully used for some time in the treatment of burns. It is also used in penis enlargement treatment, which involves several layers of alloderm strips being placed around the penis shaft to make it thicker.
Can anything live inside our skin?
Yes, there are creatures that can live inside our skinso get ready to itch! The scabies mite is a tiny insect, too small to be seen without magnification, with a round body and eight legs. Typically, an affected human is infested by about ten to twelve adult mites. After mating, the male scabies mite dies. However, the female scabies mite burrows into the top layer of skin to set up home, and lays between one and three eggs each day. She will also leave a trail of dark-colored marks, which are basically her poo. The scabies mites favorite locations include the hands, wrists, armpits, and genitals. The eggs and poo trigger an allergic reaction in our skin, which causes severe itching.
If you are unlucky enough to have caught Norwegian scabies, which is more severe and highly infectious, you can expect to have thousands of the mites living in your skin. Your hands, feet, and trunk will become scaly and crusted, with innumerable live mites hiding under the crusts.