526 OF ABSORPTION AND SANGUIFICATION. 



a. The fluid drawn from the Thoracic Duct, and from the Absorbent vessels which empty 

 their contents into it. is frequently observed to present a decided red tinge, which increases 

 on exposure to the air. This tinge is due to the presence of true Blood-corpuscles; but 

 these are somewhat modified in form and size, being a little smaller than the ordinary Blood- 

 discs, and frequently angular, granulated, or indented at the edges. By Mr. Lane* it is stated 

 that this intermixture is accidental ; and that it results from the absorption of Blood-particles 

 into the Lymphatics, at the points where the latter are divided, in making the sections ne- 

 cessary to expose the centres of the Absorbent system; and he mentions a striking fact in 

 illustration of his view. He considers that the alteration in the character of the corpuscles 

 is due to the action of the Chyle on the Blood, since many other fluids will produce analogous 

 eifects; and he states that, shortly after a flow of chyle into the blood, a large number of such 

 altered discs may be seen in the circulating fluid. On the other hand, Mr. Gulliver and 

 several eminent observers, regard these blood-discs as true constituents of the fluid of the 

 absorbents ; and suppose that they are in process of formation. Reasons have been given, 

 however, for the belief, that the red Blood-discs are not formed from the Chyle-corpuscles; 

 so that Mr. Lane's view is probably the correct one. Even if the Blood-discs are not intro- 

 duced into the Lymphatics during the operation of exposing the Thoracic Duct, it may not 

 be considered as improbable that, in those animals in which the Lymphatics have several 

 communications with the veins, they should naturally obtain an entrance in various parts of 

 the system. Such communications, according to Gerber, decidedly exist in the Horse ; and 

 it is in the Chyle of that animal, that the rosy tint, and the Blood-corpuscles which occasion 

 it, have been chiefly observed. The following table, slightly modified from that of Gerber, 

 presents in a concise form, a view of the relative proportions of the three chief ingredients 

 in the Chyle, in different parts of the absorbent system, and thus gives an idea of its advance 

 in the process of assimilation. 



In the afferent or peripheral fFat, in maximum quantity (numerous fat or oil globules). 



Lacteals (from the Intes- J Albumen in minimum quantity. 



tines to the Mesenteric | Few or no Chyle-corpuscles. 



glands). (Fibrine almost entire wanting. 



In the efferent or central f Fat, in medium quantity (fewer oil globules). 



Lacteals (from the Mesen- j Albumen, in maximum quantity. 



teric glands to the Thoracic ] Chyle-corpuscles very numerous, but imperfectly developed. 



Duct). [ Fibrine in medium quantity. 



(Tat, in minimum quantity (fewer or no oil-globules). 



i \ T"I TV I Albumen, in medium quantity. 



in the llioracic Duct. < ,-,, ,. . 



I Chyle-corpuscles numerous, and more distinctly cellular. 



^ Fibrine in maximum quantity. 



694. The aspect of the Lymph greatly differs from that of the Chyle, the 

 former being nearly transparent, whilst the latter is opaque or opalescent; and 

 this difference is readily accounted for, when the assistance of the microscope 

 is sought, by the entire absence from the Lymph of that molecular base 

 which is so abundant in the Chyle. A considerable number of corpuscles 

 are generally present in it; and these seem to correspond in all respects with 

 the white or colourless corpuscles of the Blood ( 151). Their amount, 

 however, is extremely variable ; as is also that of the oil-globules, which 

 sometimes occur, whilst in other instances none can be discovered. Lymph 

 coagulates like chyle; a colourless clot being formed, which incloses the 

 greater part of the corpuscles. 



695. The fluid drawn from the Thoracic Duct, consisting as it does of an 

 admixture of Chyle and Lymph, will probably vary in its character and com- 

 position, according to the predominance of the former, or of the latter, of these 

 fluids. It may be noticed, however, that the floating corpuscles have a more 

 distinctly cellular character than have those of the chyle and lymph; and 

 that they are of larger size, their diameter usually ranging from about 1 -2600th 

 to l-2900th of an inch. In these particulars, they correspond with the Colour- 

 less corpuscles of (he Blood ; as also in the change they exhibit on the action 

 of acetic acid, which brings into view three or four large central particles. 

 Some observations have been recently made by Bidder, on the amount of 



* Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology, vol. iii. p. 220. 



