ANATOMY. 



its loss. Inflammation or abscess often 

 causes an induration or consolidation of 

 the cellular texture, by which the integu- 

 ments are fixed to the muscles, the mus- 

 cles are firmly united to each other, and 

 to the surrounding 1 parts, and the mo- 

 tions of the whole are considerably im- 

 paired. 



From the universal extent of this cellu- 

 lar texture, two conclusions may be draw n: 

 1st, it forms the basis of the whole animal 

 fabric, in such a way, that if we conceive 

 every part removed but this, the form of 

 the whole would still be expressed in cel- 

 lular substance ; 2dly, it forms a connec- 

 tion and passage between all parts of the 

 body, however remote in situation, or dis- 

 similar in structure. For the cells of this 

 substance every where communicate ; as 

 we may collect from facts of the most 

 common and familiar occurrence. In em- 

 physema, where air escapes from the lung- 

 wounded by a broken rib into the cellu- 

 lar substance, it spreads rapidly from the 

 chest into the most remote parts of the 

 body ; and lias even been known to gain 

 admission into the eye-ball. A similar 

 diffusion of this fluid may be effected by 

 artificial inflation, which is commonly 

 practised by butchers on the carcases of 

 calves. In anasarca, or preternatural ac- 

 cumulation of fluid in the cellular sub- 

 stance, the most depending parts are the 

 most loaded; and punctures in these drain 

 the water off from the whole body. 



Jldipous substance, or fat. The cells of 

 the cellular substance, in many parts of 

 the body, are destined for the reception of 

 a fluid, termed fat. This is of an unctuous 

 nature, inflammable, lighter than water, 

 usually inodorous, and, generally speak- 

 ing, similar to the vegetable oils. It is 

 white in young animals, and becomesyel- 

 lower as they advance in age : this differ- 

 ence may be seen in the carcases of a calf 

 and cow. It is always more or less fluid 

 in the living subject ; in carnivorous ani- 

 mals, and in man, it retains much of its 

 oily appearance after death; but in herbi- 

 vorous animals it constantly assumes a con- 

 crete form. Dr. Hunter called those parts 

 of the cellular substance which contain fat, 

 adipous cellutar substance,- and distinguish- 

 ed the other by the epithet recticular. 



As the fat is deposited in cells, it as- 

 sumes in general a kind of granular form. 

 It varies considerably in consistence. That 

 of the orbit is the softest in the body, and 

 forms a well-known epicurean bonne 

 bouche, in a boiled calf s head. The fat 

 about the kidneys becomes particularly 

 bard after death, and is called suet. The 



globules or portions of this are very large, 

 and it contains on the whole less cellular 

 substance than any fat in the body. There 

 is generally a layer of fat under the skin ; 

 whence a membrana adiposa has been 

 sometimes enumerated as one of the com- 

 mon integuments of the body. 



Some parts of the body never contain 

 fat, even in subjects who have the greatest 

 accumulation of this fluid. This is the case 

 with the scrotum, the integuments of the 

 penis, and the eye-lids: it is obvious that 

 the functions of these parts would be 

 completely destroyed,if they were subject 

 to the enormous accumulations of fat, 

 which occur in other parts of the body. 

 Several of the viscera also never contain 

 any fat, probably for the same reason; this 

 is the case with the brain and lungs. 



The quantity of fat varies according to 

 the age, the state of health, and the pecu- 

 liar habit or disposition of the individual. 

 It is not found in the early periods of foetal 

 existence ; and cannot be distinguished 

 with any certainty c ooner than the fifth 

 month after conception. 



In the foetus, and for some time after 

 birth, the fat is confined to the surface of 

 the body, and is only found in a stratum 

 under the skin. It begins, however, gra- 

 dually to be deposited in the intervals of 

 the muscles, and on the surface of some 

 viscera. In old subjects, however thin 

 they may seem on an external view, there 

 is always much fat, penetrating even the 

 substance of the muscles ; the bones are 

 greasy throughout; the heart is more or 

 less loaded, as are also the parts in the 

 abdomen. 



There is a considerable difference in the 

 quantity of fat in different individuals, and 

 in some there is a propensity or disposi- 

 tion to its accumulation ; a sedentary life, 

 copious food, and tranquil state of the 

 mind are particularly favourable to the in- 

 crease of fat, which sometimes proceeds to 

 such a pitch, from the continuance of these 

 causes, that it must be considered as a dis- 

 ease, and is attended with the greatest in- 

 convenience to the individual. General 

 diseases of the frame are commonly at- 

 tended with an absorption of the fat from 

 the cellular substance : acute disorders 

 cause a very rapid emaciation. In no case 

 is the adipous substance more completely 

 removed from the whole body than in 

 anasarca, where its place is supplied by a 

 serous fluid. 



The uses of the fat seem to be, in part, 

 common to it with the cellular substance: 

 it connects contiguous parts, and at the 

 same time prevents their coalition. It ad- 



