COMPOSITION OF LYMPH. 



411 



(3.) The Lymph obtained from the beginning of the lymphatic 

 system also contains very few lymph-corpuscles ; it is clear, transparent, 

 and colourless, and closely resembles the fluids of serous cavities. That 

 the lymph coming from different tissues varies somewhat, is highly 

 probable, but this has not been proved. After lymph has passed 

 through lymphatic glands, it contains more corpuscles, and also more 

 solids, especially albumin and fat. Ritter counted 8,200 lymph- 

 corpuscles in 1 cubic centimetre of the lymph of a dog. 



Hensen and Dahnhardt obtained pure lymph in considerable quantity 

 from a lymphatic fistula, in the leg of a man. It had an alkaline 

 reaction, and a saline taste. It had the following composition, which 

 may be compared with the composition of serous transudations : 



100 parts of the Ash of lymph contained the following substances: 



Sodium chloride, 

 Soda, . 

 Potash, . 

 Lime, 



Magnesia, 



74-48 



10-36 



3-26 



0'9S 



0-27 



Phosphoric acid, 

 Sulphuric acid, 

 Carbonic acid, 

 Iron oxide, 



1-09 

 1-28 

 8-21 

 0-06 



Just as in blood, potash and phosphoric acid are most abundant in the 

 corpuscles, while soda, (chiefly sodium chloride) is most abundant in the 

 lymph-serum. The potash and phosphoric acid compounds are most 

 abundant in cerebro-spinal fluid, according to C. Schmidt. The 

 amount of icater in the lymph rises and falls with that of the blood. 

 Dog's lymph contains much C0 2 more than 40 vols. per cent., of 

 which 17 per cent, can be pumped out, and 23 per cent, expelled by 

 acids, while there are only traces of and 1*2 vols. per cent. N (Ludwig, 

 Hammersten). 



