ADIPOSE TISSUE. 413 



ever, is undoubtedly connected with its manifest value as a food-stuff 

 and as a source of energy. But we do not know whether this is 

 expressed in any specific function of the body beyond the produc- 

 tion of heat in general. As the fat disappears during starvation 

 before the albumins are attacked, we may assume that its presence 

 under normal conditions prevents an undue destruction of those ele- 

 ments which essentially represent the living tissue. In this respect, 

 however, the fats are inferior to the carbohydrates, as is apparent 

 from the fact that in starving animals the administration of fats does 

 not lead to so marked a diminution in the elimination of nitrogen 

 as is effected by a corresponding amount of carbohydrates. Upon 

 this basis also Voit has explained the well-known phenomenon that 

 herbivorous animals are more likely to accumulate albumins than the 

 carnivora, as the latter receive scarcely any carbohydrates in their 

 food, while that of the former contains comparatively large amounts. 



