126 SPECIAL HISTOLOGY. 



rably good condition, the fat-cells are always rounded or oval, 0-01-0-06 of 

 a line in diameter, with a dark border, filled with fluid, pale yellow fat, 

 which forms a single drop and with a parietal nucleus which is not 

 readily rendered visible (Fig. 50). In emaciated subjects, on the other 

 hand, hardly any cells of this kind are met with, but instead, more 

 or less abnormal forms : 1. Crranular cells, with numerous small fat- 

 drops, forming whitish-yellow clustered lobules ; 2. Fat-cells containing 

 serum, in yellow or reddish-brown minute lobular masses, which, to- 

 gether with the fat (which has become more or less diminished in quan- 

 tity, and usually appears as a single dark-colored globule), contain a 

 clear fluid and a distinct nucleus, and are considerably smaller than 

 the normal cells, 0-01-0-015 of a line; 3. Cells which contain no fat, 

 but only serum, with a distinct nucleus, and having a delicate or 

 thickened membrane ; they occur in more gelatinous fatty tissue, or 

 mingled with the others ; they are also met with in oedema; 4. Lastly, 

 Fat-cells containing crystals, either presenting 1 to 4 stars of acicular 

 crystals (margarin), together with a drop of fat, or being completely 

 filled with crystalline needles. The former occur among our normal 

 cells, the latter only in the white, more isolated, fat-lobules. 



The nuclei in the fat-cells of the adult have not, as far as I am aware, 

 yet been observed, excepting by Bendz (Almind. "Anat." p. 122, tab. 

 I. fig. 4), who rarely, very rarely, noticed even two pale nuclei with 

 nucleoli. It is true that Mulder (p. 601), states that they are furnished 

 with one, rarely with two, nuclei, but Bonders and Moleschott (ib., p. 

 602, et seq.}, upon whom Mulder appears principally to rely, expressly 

 say that they did not detect the nuclei; nor does Bonders (in the "Hol- 

 land. Beitr.," I. pp. 57, 61), say anything about nuclei. I invariably 

 find them when the fat has partially disappeared from the cell. In cells 

 completely filled, I first distinctly noticed them, in some cases in the 

 marrow, and in the fat-cells in the muscles; but I do not hesitate in the 

 least to affirm their constant occurrence in all fat-cells, since no one can 

 suppose that they are not formed until after the disappearance of the 

 fatty contents. With respect to what Donders and Moleschott observe, 

 as to the existence of two membranes in the fat-cells, the outer of which 

 is said to be soluble in concentrated acetic acid, and in potass, and the 

 inner not; the former, as Donders himself elsewhere supposes, can be 

 regarded merely as connective tissue, which, in many instances, also 

 penetrates between the separate cells and connects them together, or, pro- 

 bably, is occasionally replaced by a homogeneous connective substance 

 (modified cytoblastema). The crystals in the fat-cells are considered by 

 Vogel to be margarin. As the forms of margarin and margaric acid 

 are very similar, the question can be decided only on chemical grounds, 

 and these appear to favor the latter. 



