Extremity

[Fr. extrémité, from Lat. ext remit as.] The utmost point or points. - The highest or greatest degree; as, "Uncharitable to the extremity." ( Locke.) The utmost distre , straits, rigor, difficulty, or violence; the most aggravated state; as, "The last extremities of war." - Dryden. -pl. ( Paint . and Sculp .) The head, the hands, and the feet. ( Zool .) The arms and legs, and analogous members in lower animals. Extricable, a. [Lat. extricabilis.] That may be freed or extricated. Ex'tricate, v . a . [Lat. extricare, from ex, and tricare, hinderances.] To free from difficulties, impediments, or embarra ments; to disentangle; to relieve; to set free; to send out. "Giving to nature a chance to extricate herself." -Add is on. "shed." The films of mucus thrown off by most molluscs and zoöphytes must also be regarded as E. Insects shed the whole integument several times in succe ion. Shell-fish usually cast away the external shell yearly. Fishes seem to cast off exuvial layers of mucus only; but most reptiles periodically moult the epidermis either entire or in large coherent ma es. The rattlesnake is described as actually inverting and drawing off its own skin. The moulted feathers of birds, the hairs of various species of mammal i a, and the small scales of scarfskin which are ince antly cast off by man, may be regarded as exuvial deposits.