172 SENSE OF TOUCH. 



and numerous, and their contained matter is of rather a 

 solid consistency : on the surface of the body these cells are 

 smaller ; and in some of the bones, where the medullary 

 juice is nearly fluid, they are veiy small. The adipose cells 

 do not appear to communicate ; which forms a very essential 

 difference between this tissue and the general connecting 

 cellular membrane. 



The fat is an unctuous juice that is secreted or poured 

 into the cells of the adipose membrane ; at first in a fluid 

 form, from which, in particular places, it gradually becomes 

 of a firmer consistence. It appears in greater quantity in 

 some parts of the body than in others ; forming in the ab- 

 domen suet, while that over the surface of the body, and 

 within the bones, it is semi-oleaginous, and in some almost 

 approaches to oil. Fat is wholly unorganized, having 

 neither nerves, arteries, veins, nor absorbents ; and however 

 much it may be involved by general acute disease it cannot 

 itself originate any disorder. 



The uses of this substance appear to be several : it may 

 be considered as a guard to parts, and its distribution 

 strengthens this opinion : hence it is found covering the 

 nerves and bloodvessels, especially such as are in the neigh- 

 bourhood of hard parts, and liable to pressure. It fills up 

 most depressions, and thus adds much to beauty : this is 

 instanced in the eye- pits, which in young horses are filled 

 up with this substance : it is useful also in lessening 

 that irritability of the cutaneous nerves so remarkable 

 in young animals ; and for which reason we find most 

 of the adeps in early life distributed exteriorly ; while that 

 of older subjects is placed mostly within the cavities of 

 the body. In quadrupeds of all ages, the omentum is very 

 plentifully supplied with it ; but in some more than in others ; 

 in the horse it is proportionally small, and the quantity of 

 abdominal fat generally is in him very limited, as it is in 

 most animals destined for extraordinary speed. Even the 

 kidneys of the horse are but sparingly furnished with adeps. 

 In well fed oxen the fat fills up the interstices of the muscles, 

 and is placed in the cancelli of bones, where it is generally 

 termed marrow. The most important of the uses of the fat 

 to animals, however, is to form a depot for the support of 

 the constitution under the accidental want of nourishment : 



