I 



408 THE CELLULAR MEMBRANE. 



may be completely discharged from anasarcous subjects, by 

 making incisions in the feet and placing the subject erect. 



Blood effused in the cellular membrane is sometimes dis- 

 persed in the same way ; an ecchymosis often appears in the 

 eyelids in consequence of a contusion on the upper part of the 

 head ; and similar appearances occur in almost every part of 

 the body, in consequence ofeffusion of blood at a distance from 

 them. 



The fat or adipose matter is not diffused in this manner : 

 wherever it is first diffused, it remains, uninfluenced by gravi- 

 ty, or the ordinary pressure. 



Fat is not observed in every part of the body ; it is never seen 

 in the cellular membrane of the eyelids ; of the penis ; of the 

 lungs ; of the parts within the cranium ; as well as of several 

 other places. The inconvenience which would result from the 

 accumulation of fat in these place r is very obvious : and it is 

 equally certain that the cellular membrane in them must be 

 different from that in which fat is produced. 



From these peculiar circumstances, relative to the adeps, it 

 has been inferred^ that there was a peculiar apparatus for the 

 production and retension of fat, superadded to the cellular 

 membrane ; and some anatomists, with a view to precision, 

 have called the part containing fat, Adipose Membrane, and 

 the other part Reticular Membrane.* They state that in drop- 

 sical subjects, who are much emaciated, the membrane which 

 in a healthy state contained adeps, is more ligamentous than 

 the ordinary cellular membrane. 



It seems to be proved, by reasoning, that there must be a 

 considerable difference between these different parts of the 

 cellular membrane : but it ought to be observed that those parts 

 of the omentum which are especially appropriated to the 

 production of adeps, do not exhibit any peculiarity of structure. 



This adipose substance is distributed in unequal proportions 

 in different parts of the body. In corpulent persons there is a 



* See remarks on the cellular membrane, &c., by Dr. W. Hunter, in the 

 London Medical Observations and Inquiries, vol. ii, 



