200 Ufes cf the Cellular Stance. [Book IX. 



parts of the body, are compofed of the cellular iub-. 

 ftance in a more confolidated ftate; and it is therefore 

 very properly confidercd as an univerfal connecting 

 medium in every purl of the body. 



The ufesof this fubftance are fo important, that, in 

 all probability, animals could not exift without it. 

 By uniting the ^ fibres of the mufcles into compact 

 mafies, it fecures them from becoming entangled with 

 ea.ch other, and with the minute blood-veffels, lym- 

 phatics and nerves, which are every where diftributed 

 among them. At the fame time, however, that it 

 connects together the mufcles, and preferves them in 

 their relative fit/nations, it is fufficiently loofe to giVe 

 full play to all their motions. It ferves alfo the pur- 

 pofe of a foft and compreffible cufhion, interpofed 

 among the mufcles, and, being always moift and flip- 

 pery, renders their motions eafy, and prevents 

 friction. 



The cellular fubftance alfo affords a lodgment to the 

 fat, and, together with it, fills up the interfaces be- 

 tween mufcles, and adds to the beauty, evennefs, 

 fmooihnefs, and foftnefs of the furface of the body. 



The Abbe Fontana, on examining the fot of dif- 

 ferent animals, found it fluid and of an oily nature. It 

 was contained in very minute veficles heaped together, 

 and thefe veficles were covered with a thin tiflue of 

 twifting fibres. On prefiing them, he plainly per- 

 ceived the fat ooze out on all lides, but on the moft 

 careful examination was unable to difcover any ducts. 

 going to or from them. 



The ufes of the fat, as has been already intimated, 

 are in fome refpefts fimilar to thofe of the cellular 

 fubftance, in which it is feated. It involves many 

 of the vifcera, particularly thofe of the abdomen, and 

 here it increafesj in people difpofed to obefity, to a 



great 



