214 



OF ABSORPTION AND SANGUIFICATION. 



the molecular base of the chyle (a, Figs. 91, 92). These molecules are most 



abundant in rich, milky, opaque chyle ; whilst 

 in poorer chyle, which is semi-transparent, or 

 opaline, the particles float thinly or separately 

 in the transparent fluid, and often exhibit the 

 vivid motions common to the most minute 

 molecules of vai'ious substances. Such is their 

 minuteness that, even with the best instru- 

 ments, it is impossible to form an exact ap- 

 preciation either of their form or their dimen- 

 sions. They seem, however, to be generally 

 spherical ; and their diameter may be esti- 

 mated at between ssjU^th and jigosth 

 of an inch. Though remarkable for their 

 unchaugeableness, when subjected to the ac- 

 tion of numerous reagents which quickly 

 affect the proper Chyle-corpuscles, they are 

 readily soluble in ether, the addition of which 

 causes the whole molecular base instantly to 

 disappear, not a particle of it remaining; 

 whence it may be inferred that they consist 

 of oily or fatty matter. That they do not 

 ordinarily tend to coalesce, is probably due 

 to the coating of albumen which they obtain, 

 through their diffusion in an albuminous 

 fluid; if, however, this be dissolved by acetic 

 acid, or even when water is added, many of 

 the molecules are lost sight of, and oil-drops 

 appear in their place. The milky color 

 which the Serum of blood always exhibits 

 in healthy subjects during the most active 

 period of digestion, is due to an admixture 

 of this molecular base with the circulating 

 fluid. 



154. During the passage of the Chyle 

 through the absorbents on the intestinal 

 edge of the mesentery, towards the Mes- 

 euteric Glands, its character changes in 

 several important particulars. The presence 

 of Fibrin begins to manifest itself by the 

 slight coagulability of the fluid when with- 

 drawn from the vessels; and a few Chyle- 

 or Cytoid-corpuscles make their appearance; 

 though these may occasionally be observed 

 in the chyle from a lacteal on the wall of the 

 intestine. The corpuscles are most abundant 

 in the chyle of the mesenteric glands, and 

 become less numerous again in the fluid of 



the thoracic duct (compare a, b, c, Fig. 91). The average diameter of 

 these bodies is about 4,-,'offth of an inch. During digestion they are seen 

 to be accompanied by much of the fatty molecular base of the chyle 

 (a, Figs. 91, 92), some particles of which have coalesced to form larger 

 ones, surrounded by a thin layer of albumen (b, Fig. 92). Two, three, 

 or more of the corpuscles may be sometimes seen inclosed within a common 



Molecular Base and Corpuscles of 

 Chyle. At a, from a lacteal on the in- 

 testine ; 6, from a mesenteric gland ; c, 

 from the receptaculum chyli. From a 

 man. 



