REMOVAL OF ADIPOSE TISSUE, ETC. 137 



matter or other evidence by which the real nature of 

 the tissue may be identified remains. In some adult 

 fishes this is the ordinary condition of the hepatic 

 organ, and without great care in the preparation of 

 specimens, not a vestige of hepatic tissue will be dis- 

 covered. In all these instances, however, the stages 

 through which the gland- elementary part passes may 

 be studied without difficulty, and specimens may be 

 obtained which show every degree of alteration, from. 

 a transparent elementary part, completely destitute 

 of fatty matter, to a body which appears to consist 

 only of a huge oil-globule. It is surprising how 

 large an accumulation of fat may occur in the liver 

 in some of these cases. As much as 66'19 per cent, 

 was found by me in one case, recorded by Dr. 

 Budd.* 



194. Of the removal of adipose tissue and the 

 absorption of fat. Not less interesting than the 

 consideration of the mode of development of adipose 

 tissue is the question concerning the manner in which 

 its removal is effected. It is well known that large 

 quantities of fat which have been stored up in the 

 body and have been collecting for a considerable 

 time, may quickly disappear, in consequence of the 

 fat being absorbed, and its elements applied to assist 

 in the nutrition of tissues whose waste could not 

 occur without consequences very damaging to the 

 organism, and in maintaining the requisite tempera- 

 ture. The adipose tissue may, indeed, be regarded 

 as a sort of storehouse, in which fat is accumulated 

 as long as the body is abundantly supplied with food, 

 from which it may be removed and appropriated, 

 should a period of scarcity occur. In the winter, 

 when the fat of the fat bodies of the frog are being 

 absorbed, the bioplasm of each vesicle can be seen 

 spreading around the fatty matter, which gradually 



* "Diseases of the Liver," 2nd ed., p. 284. 



