RADIATION OF HEAT FROM THE HUMAN BODY. V. THE TRANSMISSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION THROUGH SKIN

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Abstract
Using a spectrometer of high dispersion and the technique of Hutchins for scattering corrections the infra-red absorption curves of (1) thick specimens of dead human skin obtained from surgical amputations, (2) the entire thickness of a rabbit''s ear first alive and later amputated, and (3) thin epidermal pieces of human skin obtained by cantharides blister, the scattering in the thicker specimens was about 90% of the total light transmitted; in the thinner skin the correction was slight. Transmission of the most penetrating of the infra-red rays through dead human skin was found to be such that 66% of the incident energy penetrates the corneum; 50% penetrates to the subcut. tissue; 99% is absorbed within 3 mm. of the surface. Transmission exps. with the living and dead rabbit''s ear show that the transmission for living tissue is considerably less than for dead tissue. The application of these findings to infra-red therapy would indicate that its mechanism must be a peripheral one. A study of infra-red photography as applied to the photographing of subcut. structures shows that due to the scattering and absorption of the tissues very little can be photographed that cannot be seen with the eye.

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