16 OF THE MUCOUS WEB. 



27. Besides the purposes before mentioned (22,) (23), 

 it is destined for the reception of several kinds of fluids. 

 Its chief use in this respect is to receive that serous 

 halitus which moistens and lubricates every part. This, 

 when formed by the blood vessels, it imbibes like a 

 sponge and delivers over to the lymphatics, thus consti- 

 tuting the grand connection between th6se two systems 

 of vessels. 



28. In certain parts its office is to contain peculiar 

 fluids ; v. c. in the eye, existing as the vitreous mem- 

 brane, it contains the vitreous humour : in the bones, 

 as the medullary membrane (improperly denominated 

 internal periosteum), the marrow ; in soft parts, it is in 

 great abundance, and contains the rest of the fat, of 

 which we shall speak hereafter. 



NOTE. 



(A) Since this structure neither secretes mucus, nor consists 

 of mucus, but chiefly of what becomes gelatine by the operation 

 of boiling water, the generally received appellation of celluhir 

 membrane appears preferable to that of mucous tela adopted by 

 Blumenbach from Bordeu,* and especially in this work, as our 

 author (40) suggests the title of vis cellulosa for the contractile 

 power of the membrane. 



* Jidchcrchcs sur U tissu Muqucux. 



