VARIOUS MEMBRANES AND TISSUES. 117 



225. Stimulants to the superficial absorbent system. 



Whilst the deep seated Absorbents are difficult to affect by treatment, 

 the superficial absorbents and blood-vessels are easily excited to increased 

 activity. Friction and pressure both excite their action. Hence hand- 

 rubbing or bandages will often reduce swelled legs. Stimulants of various 

 kinds applied externally and especially biniodide of mercury cause in- 

 creased absorption. Purgatives by removing the contents of the intes- 

 tines, and diuretics by increasing the amount of urine, cause the absorb- 

 ents to set to work to supply the deficiency, and in doing so they remove 

 superfluous fluids from the system. 



226. Lymphangitis or Weed. 



Weed is a very peculiar disease of the superficial absorbents. It is 

 due primarily at least to irritation of the lymphatics of the part affected. 

 Inflammation speedily follows, resulting in a sudden effusion of serum 

 into the limb. The effusion generally arises from a plethoric state of 

 the system induced by high feeding and want of exercise. The absorb- 

 ents are unable to effect its removal with sufficient rapidity, and in con- 

 sequence become swollen and congested, often to an enormous size. The 

 case, though it looks ugly, is not so really. 



The treatment consists in rousing the absorbents to greater energy. 

 With this view an ordinary dose of medicine may be given, followed by 

 diuretics and tonics. Warm fomentations should be constantly applied 

 to the part. In slight cases a little gentle exercise will often sufficiently 

 arouse the activity of the absorbents. 



CHAPTER 13. 



STRUCTURE AND USES OF VARIOUS MEMBRANES AND TISSUES. 



227. Mucous membrane. 228. Villi. 229. Epithelium. 230. Serous 

 membrane. 231. Cartilage. 232. Fibro- cartilage. 233. Inter- articular 

 fibro 'Cartilage. 234. Fibrous tissue. White fibrous and yellow fibrous tissue. 

 235. Areolar tissue. 236. Fascia. 237. Muscle. 238. Adipose tissue or 

 Fat. 239. Pigments. 240. Glands. 



227. Mucous membrane. 



Mucous membrane is everywhere continuous with the skin. It also 

 lines all internal parts which communicate either directly or indirectly 

 with the air. It lines for instance the whole alimentary canal from the 

 mouth to the anus, the nasal passages, &c. It is the medium by which 

 matters are eliminated from the system, or foreign substances are taken 

 up into it. 



In structure Mucous membrane much resembles the skin. It varies 

 in thickness in different parts. In the nose, nasal passages, and lungs it 



