Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/140

 120 ADIPOSE TISSUE ADIKONDACK MOUNTAINS peculiar to the tissue and are called the adipose vesicles. Each vesicle consists of a thin, color- less, and structureless animal membrane, em- bracing a closed cavity, and filled with fluid or semi-fluid fat. The vesicles generally approx- imate a globular or ovoid form, but with some flattening and angularity of surface produced by mutual compression. The albuminoid ele- ments entering into the composition of the adi- pose tissue, such as those composing the wall of the vesicles, the intermediate areolar tissue, &c., are much less abundant than its fatty con- tents. The blood vessels and nerves are partic- ularly scanty, as compared with those of the neighboring skin and muscles ; so that a wound of the adipose tissue produces but slight pain and very little bleeding. The functions of the adipose tissue are for the most part physical in their character. It acts as a cushion to pro- tect delicate parts from pressure or injury. Particularly, wherever the skin is exposed to frequent pressure over a bony prominence, as over the buttocks or beneath the heel, it is defended by an elastic layer of fat. The eye- ball rests in its socket upon such a cushion of adipose tissue, and the abdominal organs are protected from injurious pressure by that of the omentum and the abdominal walls. The en- tire layer of adipose tissue beneath the skin and elsewhere also acts as a protection to the animal warmth. Being to a great extent a non-conductor, it is a kind of natural blanket, which prevents the dissipation of the heat of the internal organs, and thus serves to maintain their temperature. An abundant layer of adi- pose tissue is accordingly an effective protec- tion against external cold, while animals which are in an emaciated condition more readily suffer from its effects. Adipose tissue is some- times deposited in an excessive degree, form- ing morbid growths or tumors. These tumors, however, are usually not dangerous, but only inconvenient from their size or situation. ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS, the principal group of mountains in New York, extending from the extreme N. E. corner of the state in a S. S. W. direction toward its centre, occupy- ing portions of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, and Hamilton counties. The Catskills, S. of the Mohawk river, may be regarded as their exten- sion in this direction. In the western part of Essex county these mountains have their great- est development, and present the highest peaks of any of the northern spurs of the Appala- chian chain, Mount Washington in New Ham- shire alone excepted. They rise from an ele- vated plateau, which extends over this portion of the country for 150 miles in latitude and Longitude Zatt 3 trom Washington Longitude West 74 from Greenwich