THE SURFACE TENSION OF HUMAN SWEAT - ITS DETERMINATION AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

[摘要] A modification of the capillary rise method for detn. of surface tension adapting the method for relatively simple laboratory detns. of surface tension of sweat and other body fluids is described and compared with a more direct method of detn. The surface tension of sweat as it accumulates on the skin surface was found to avg. about 69-70 dynes/cm., although values considerably lower than this may be encountered if the sweat is contaminated with surface debris or capillary active materials. No consistent differences were observed in surface tension of sweat collected from the back, face or leg. Although surface tension per se appeared to have little or no systematic influence upon evaporative rate, it is pointed out that if the surface tension were reduced by capillary active substances during the process of discharge from the sweat ductule, more rapid spreading over the skin surface would tend to facilitate more rapid evaporation from a relatively larger surface area.