118 AREOLAR TISSUE. 
have precisely similar relations to the cell, and both elevate 
the cell-membrane into a prominence at the points where 
they are attached. When one of these cells is pressed 
under the compressorium, the cell-membrane is at first 
remarkably expanded, and then tears to a very limited 
extent, allowing the fat to flow out. When the pressure is 
discontinued, it contracts again strongly. It has a minutely 
granulous aspect, is soft and very elastic, but not fibrous. 
In close apposition, the cells become flattened against one 
another into polyhedral shapes, and, as Gurlt remarks, they 
then resemble vegetable cells in their appearance. We, how- 
ever, may go further, and regard them as corresponding in 
signification also. In them the fat forms the cell-contents, as 
the pigment does in its cells, and the ethereal oil, &c. in those 
of plants. In its physiological signification of nutritive deposit 
it has more analogy with starch than with any other substance. 
I know not whether the nucleus is the part first formed in 
these cells, or not. Nuclei without any mvesting cells are 
found in the cranial cavity of the carp, lying with the adipose 
cells in the surrounding cytoblastema; these, however, may 
be nuclei of fibre-cells of areolar tissue. Sooner or later the 
nuclei become absorbed. They were still quite distinct in the 
adipose cells of the subcutaneous areolar tissue in the thigh 
of the before-mentioned rickety child twelve months old, 
whilst I could not detect any in the neck of a foetus at the 
seventh month. The absorption of the nucleus proceeds in one 
of two ways; either its external contour becomes gradually 
indistinct, some granulous substance merely being left in its 
place, which substance also disappears at a later period, or 
small fat-globules are formed both within the nucleus itself, 
and in its immediate proximity, which go on increasing in 
size, whilst the nucleus gradually disappears. The cell-mem- 
brane probably remains, even in the mature condition of the 
tissue, and Gurlt has made the very interesting observation, 
that im emaciated persons, the ordinary adipose cells are filled 
with serum, 
ce. The third kind of cells which occur in the areolar tissue 
of the foetus are round, for the most part extremely pale and 
transparent (pl. III, fig. 9.) They vary very much in size, 
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