OF THE SYNOVIAL MEMBRANES OF THE TENDONS. 1G5 



mation and some blood vessels particularly apparent in the 

 fringes, enter into the composition of these membranes whose 

 lymphatics and nerves are entirely unknown. The liquid 

 they contain is viscid, more abundant than in the sub-cutane- 

 ous mucous bursae, yellowish and sometimes reddish; it is 

 oleiform, partly coagulable, and contains albumen and mu- 

 cus: it is more viscid in the mucous bursas which are the most 

 extensive. Mr. Koch has found some difference to exist in 

 this liquid, as examined in different animals, as in the ox, the 

 horse and the hog. 



209. The properties of the tendinous capsules have nothing 

 particular. Their functions are to secrete and contain a mu- 

 cilaginous liquid, which facilitate the sliding by diminishing 

 the loss of motion which results from friction. 



But little is known respecting the development of these 

 membranes. According to some, they are greatest in number 

 in young subjects, and by increasing in size and meeting each 

 other, they become partly confounded in old age. M. Seiler, 

 on the contrary, asserts that they diminish in extent in old 

 persons, and partly disappear. 



210. They undergo some changes.* Dropsy is an affec- 

 tion not very rare in them, those which are in the neighbour- 

 hood of the skin are particularly liable to it; this may occasion 

 the disease to be confounded with hygroma. The name of 

 ganglion is given to the little circumscribed tumours resulting 

 from it, and which are often cysts also. These tumours are 

 particularly met with in the hamstrings, wrist, foot, &c.; they 

 contain a serous, albuminous, yellowish or reddish liquid, 

 similar in colour and consistence to 1 currant jelly. The ab- 

 sorption of this liquid is effected very slowly: it is accelerated 

 by crushing the tumours that contain it, as this disperses it in 

 the cellular tissue. These tumours are occasionally found much 

 larger; voluminous collections of purulent serum that have 

 been observed under the great muscles of the backj under the 

 deltoid, &c. and which have been confounded with the com- 



* Monro, op. cit. Koch. De morbis bursarum tcndinum mucosaram* 

 Lips. 1790. 



