As the substance of adipose tumours is never furnished with very large bloodvessels, the fear of hemorrhage need not deter us from operating, because it is an undoubted fact that there is no species of tumour that can be removed with so much celerity, with such apparent dexterity, or with such complete security against future consequences as those of an adipose nature.

However, now and then when the tumour has been previously in an inflammatory state, the capsule becomes thickened, and intimately adherent to the surface of the swelling; so that the separation of the disease is more difficult, and requires the knife to be more freely employed. The tumour also sometimes becomes, after inflammation, closely adherent to the contiguous parts. Now, these adipose tumours often acquire an enormous magnitude; therefore the immense size of the wound requisite for their removal must be dangerous, and is a strong argument in favour of having recourse to the operation at an earlier period. Yet it is equally true, that large fatty swellings may be taken out with a greater prospect of success than any other kind of tumour of equal size.