14 OF THE MUCOUS WEB. 



muscles, tendons, ligaments, aponeuroses, and in cer- 

 tain membranes, as the dura mater, &c. 



20. In other parts no fibres can be discovered, but 

 the texture is peculiar, has been called parenchyma 

 from the time of Erasistratus, and differs in different 

 viscera, especially the secreting, of one kind in the 

 liver, of another in the kidneys. 



21. But in all the structures, whether fibrous or paren- 

 chymatous, there is interwoven a general mucous web* 

 commonly styled cellular, but improperly, because it 

 rather is continuous, equal, tenacious, ductile, sub- 

 pellucid, and glutinous, f By handling, it is easily 

 converted into a cellular and vesicular membrane, and 

 demands a place among the most important and re- 

 markable constituents of the body. (A) 



22. For, in the first place, many solid parts, v. c. 

 most membranes and cartilages, may by long continued 

 maceration be resolved into it alone. With some it is 

 so intimately united, as to afford a receptacle and sup- 

 port for other constituents: v. c. the hardest bones 

 consisted at first of cartilage, that was originally con- 

 densed mucous membrane, but has since become dis- 

 tended by the effusion of bony matter into its substance, 

 which is rendered more lax and cellular. In fact, it is 

 universally present in the solids, if we except the epi- 

 dermis, nails, hairs, and the vitreous exterior of the 

 corona of the teeth, in which I have never been able to 

 discover it by employing the strongest acid. 



23. To the muscles and membranes especially it 



* Dav. Chr. Schobinger, (Praes. Hallero) JDe tela; Cellulosee in fabrica c. h, 

 dignitate. Getting. 1748. 4to. Sam. Chr. Lucae at the end of his Observ. 

 circa nervos arterias adcuntes. Francof. 1810. 4to. 



t asp. Fr. Wolff, Nov. Act. Pctropol. t vi. j>. 251). 



