80 THE SEROUS TISSUE. 



In the adult, on the contrary, the fat lessens in quantity 

 and in many instances entirely disappears from beneath the 

 skin while it collects in large quantities about the heart, 

 kidneys, omentum, &c. 



The uses of the fat vary with its situation. Beneath the 

 skin, it covers the projections of bones, thereby increasing 

 the rotundity and adding beauty to the form. In the or- 

 bits it serves as an elastic cushion for the eye to roll upon. 

 In the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, it prevents 

 injury to the skin from pressure and in being a bad con- 

 ductor of caloric, it assists in preserving the body of uniform 

 temperature, while in nutrition, it is regarded as the great 

 store-house of supply, during the wasting process of pro- 

 tracted disease. 



THE SEROUS TISSUE. 



ANALYSIS. 



IDENTITY WITH CELLULAR TISSUE, FORM, DIVISIONS, REFLECTIONS, STRUCTURE, 



FUNCTIONS. 



The serous tissue has been brought under the same head 

 with the cellular, being regarded by the highest authorities 

 as a -modification of the same. 



The inflation of the subjacent cellular texture with air, 

 reduces the serous membrane to the same form protracted 

 maceration has the same effect with greater certainty : 

 when the cellular tissue is inflated, the parietes of the cell 

 strongly resemble the finest parts of the serous tissue as 

 seen in the arachnoid membrane. 



There is a further identity of functions and affections 

 exhalation and absorption being performed in each, and 

 dropsy passing, it is said, readily from the one to the 

 other. 



The form of the serous tissue is that of a shut sack. It 

 is divided into 



1st. The serous tissue proper, as the peritoneum, plura, 

 tunica arachnoids, and tunica, vaginalis, situated in the 

 abdomen, thorax, cranium, and upon the testicle. 



