406 THE CELLULAR MEMBRANE. 



of Jordon, is the ^th part of an English line. They are 

 transparent, and yield gelatine on boiling, in which respect 

 they correspond with the primitive fibres of tendons. Trevira- 

 nus has recently asserted from microscopical observations, that 

 they are hollow cylinders, which terminate by one extremity 

 in the minute lymphatic vessels.* This, which possibly may 

 be the case, and is supportec^ in some measure the opinions of 

 Fohman and Schwann, wants confirmation from other observers.! 

 These fibres of the cellular tissue, are united so as to form 

 lamellated membranes which cross each other in all directions, 

 and produce an irregular interlacement, constituting a series of 

 cells, which communicate together. The tissue thus formed, 

 might with propriety be called arealor or filamentous. It is 

 of a greyish aspect and highly elastic. This latter property 

 does not appear to depend upon any innate elasticity in the 

 ultimate filaments, but on the sinuous disposition of these 

 filaments, and of the fasciculi into which they are collected. It 

 is continuous over the whole body ; hence the great extent to 

 which it may be affected by diffuse inflammation. 

 In many parts of the body, as in the axilla, under the sub- 

 scapularis muscle, and between the free surfaces of muscles and 

 their sheaths the cellular tissue is very loose and extensible. 

 In other situations it is much more condensed and firm, as 

 in the submucous, subserous, and subcutaneous cellular tissues. 

 In the latter of these, especially in that part constituting the 

 superficial fascia, and also in the cutis itself, it approaches to the 

 fibrous tissues, both in density, and in the mode of arrangement 

 of its elementary filaments, and is therefore not unfrequently 

 named fibro-cellular tissue. 



These laminae, when in a healthy state, appear to have no 

 sensibility ; but so many nerves pass through them, that pain 

 is generally felt when incisions are made in the cellular mem- 

 brane. 



No vessels can be seen in their composition when they are 



* Mailer's Archives for 1834, p. 410. 



f Vide Breschet, sur le Systeme Lymphatique, etc. Paris, 1836. 



