Part 44

Unnatural proportions of fat.—Its preternatural abundance indicates weakness.—Different proofs.—Of the causes of the diminution of fat.—Remark upon this diminution. 121

Different states of the fat.—Its degree of fluidity is not during life in proportion to temperature.—Its consistence in young animals.—Consequences.—Its alterations by age, diseases, &c. 125

Exhalation of fat.—Different opinions.—The fat is exhaled.—Proofs.—Nature of this fluid.—Relation of its uses with the places where it exists and with those in which it is wanting. 127

ARTICLE FOURTH.

ORGANIZATION OF THE CELLULAR SYSTEM.

I. Texture peculiar to the organization of the Cellular System.

Filaments and layers from which it results.—Method of seeing them to advantage.—Their nature.—Essential difference in the cellular organization.—There are two species of cellular texture. 129

Composition of the cellular texture.—Experiments upon this texture.—Action of the air, water, caloric and the gastric juices.—Experiments.—Of the gases sometimes extricated in the cellular texture. 132

II. Parts common to the Organization of the Cellular Texture.

Blood vessels.—The inaccuracy of injections in demonstrating them.

Exhalants.—Of the cellular exhalations.—Proofs and phenomena of these exhalations.

Absorbents.—Cellular absorptions.—Proofs.—The cellular texture is not wholly formed of absorbents.

Nerves. 136

ARTICLE FIFTH.

PROPERTIES OF THE CELLULAR SYSTEM.

I. Properties of Texture.

Extensibility.—Examples of the different distensions.—Distinctive character of the cellular extensibility.—Its phenomena.—It becomes nothing in inflammation, chronic engorgements, &c.

Contractility.—Different examples of this property brought into action.—Its varieties according to the ages.—General remarks. 140

II. Vital Properties.

The animal ones are inconsiderable.—The organic are greater, except sensible contractility, which however exists to a certain extent.

Sympathies.—It is necessary to distinguish them from the phenomena of juxta-position.—Various examples.—General observations.—Vital properties put in action by the sympathies.

Character of the vital properties.—The vital activity is very considerable in the cellular texture.—Various proofs.—Remarks upon the species.—Difference of vitality in the two species of cellular texture. 143

III. Properties of Reproduction.

Influence of the cellular texture upon the formation of cicatrices.—Division of the periods of the cicatrices.

First period.—Inflammation.—How it takes place.—Its advantages.

Second period.—Fleshy granulations.—Experiments.—Provisional membrane of the cicatrices.—Its uses.—General phenomena of the internal cicatrices.—Cellular nature of this membrane and of the granulations.—Different opinions.

Third period.—Suppuration.—What corresponds to it in the internal cicatrices.—Analogy of these cicatrices with the external.

Fourth period.—Contraction of the fleshy granulations.—Adhesions.—Consequences of the preceding principles.—Of union by the first intention. 148