2G4 
The Aiqilications of Phi/siologij 
consists of elastic fibres, and is distributed through every part of 
the body, so completely indeed, that could we conceive that all 
the remaining^ parts of the body were removed except this, a com- 
plete model of it would be left by the cellular tissue. The resi- 
liency of the skin, or mellowness, as it is termed by farmers, is 
due to the proper condition and amount of the cellular tissue. 
In the healthy state of an animal, the interstices of the cellular 
tissue are filled with a fluid secreted from the blood. Hence, on 
pressing the skin, this fluid is pressed out of these interstices into 
the adjacent ones, which by their elasticity immediately return it on 
the removal of the pressure. But when an animal is not in a 
thriving state, the fibres of the cellular tissue lose their elasticity, 
and the skin ^ji?* on pressure. The resiliency of the skin, there- 
fore, indicates the state and amount of the cellular tissue. 
Without an abundance of this tissue a sufficiency of fat cannot 
be formed, and hence we find farmers examining the resiliency 
or mellowness of the skin in those parts where fat is most de- 
sired. This, then, is to ascertain whether the receptacles for fat 
exist, and if they do, the farmer may be pretty confident that they 
will become filled when he proceeds to fatten the animal.* 
It would be very intere"sting to ascertain why certain breeds of 
cattle have a disposition to secrete fat internally and others exter- 
nally ; but as I have not hitherto had any opportunity of studying 
this subject in connexion with the habits of the breeds, I shall 
refrain from making any observations upon it. 
It IS a common remark amongst farmers, that the "last food 
pays best," meaning, I presume, that during the latter stage of 
fattening the animal increases in weight more rapidly with less 
consumption of food. This would seem to arise from several 
causes. First, the deposition of fatty matter iu the cellular tissues 
* Cellular tissue consists of gelatin. Gelatin is a nitrogenized body dif- 
ferent in composition from albumen and the other nitrogenized ingredients 
of food. Gelatin, when taken as food, does not seem to aid in the forma- 
tion of flesh, but acts upon the cellular and other gelatinous tissues. 
Oriental ladies, who think fat a great beauty, acquire emhoupoinl by 
taking soups and food containing little nitrogen. The soups contain 
gelatin, and form cellular or adipose tissue, the receptacles for fat. The 
soups evidently act hy producing what farmers call melluwiicss. In our 
country we do not think it necessary to produce this state in our ladies, 
and we might, therefore, try whether we could not do it with our cattle. 
If we were to treat them to soups made from the heels of cows or calves, 
or, more economically, by boiling bones in water for a considerable time, 
we would furnish the materials necessary for pioducing cellular tissue, or 
mellowness. The boiled bones might then be used as manure, so that no 
loss would be experienced. In certain diseases of cellular tissue in man, 
we must prohibit sou])s. This obviously shows that they act upon this 
tissue. It is true that the suggestion here made is quite theoretical, and, 
as far as I am aware, has not been tried. Is it not worthy of a trial in 
practice ? 
