528 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Sept., 1908. 



enter masses of adenoid tissue called lymphatic glands which are often 

 situated near joints. These glands come into prominence when the lym- 

 phatics happen to drain an area where inflammation is going on ; they swell 

 up and become painful. Thus an inflamed wound in the human foot will 

 produce swelling of the glands behind the knee and also of those in 

 ihe groin. 



I'he lacteal vessel in the centre of each villus belongs to the lymphatic 

 s\stem and, as mentioned, its contents pass eventually into the circulation 

 through the thoracic duct. 



When a drug or poison is injected subcutaneouslv it really is forced 

 into Ivmph spaces, unless bv accident it is introduced into a vein, in which 

 case its distribution through the body is rapid. Now, absorption from the 

 lymph spaces can occur in two ways. Firstly, the drug or poison may 

 diffuse into the adjacent capillaries and so reach the general circulation. 

 This occurs more readily the simpler the chemical constitution of the sub- 

 stance. But with substances of extreme chemical complexitv. such as 

 proteins, this diffusion is so small as to be practically absent and the only 

 path of absorption open to the substance is to pass in the very tai'dy 

 lymph-stream, through the various glands, into the thoracic duct and so 

 into the general circulation. 



The chief factor concerned in the flow of lymph is muscular movement 

 which exerts an intermittent pressure on the vessels, and, as these possess 

 numerous valves all pointing heartwards, the lymph is forced along in 

 that direction. This gives us another beneficial action of exercise. 



The peritoneal, pleural and pericardial cavities, and the svnovial 

 cavities in joints, may be regarded as potential lymph-spaces in which a 

 minimum of lymph is found in health. When the portal vein is partially 

 obstructed, the amount of lymph which can collect in the abdominal cavitv 

 may be estimated by the gallon; whilst collections of fluid in the pleura, 

 pericardial, and synovial cavities are generally the result of inflammatory 

 conditions. 



AN EFFECTIVE LIME SPREADER. 



F. E. Lee, Agricultural Superirdcudent. 



The spread of knowledge in connexion with the modern treatment of 

 soils has brought into prominence the value of I'me as a soil amendment. The 

 use, however, of this invaluable material has been very much restricted 

 owing to the unpleasant conditions incidental to the spreading. The 

 illustrations below are taken from a lime spreadmg machine recentlv im- 

 ported bv Mr. R. G. Wilson,, of Lyndoch Park, Whittlesea. The machine 

 is simple in construction and is light enough in draught for a single horse. 

 The width between wheels is 13 feet, the axle being geared on to a .shaft 

 carrying 22 cog wheels, operating small square linked iron pullev chains, 

 6 inches apart, which pass through the box containing the powdered lime. 

 As the machine moves forward, the lime is drawn out by the links and is 

 uniformly distributed on the land. 



The machine may be adjusted to sow from 2 cwt. to 2 tons per r.cre, a 

 higher speed-wheel being used for amounts over a ton per acre. The wide 

 spread permits of 15 to 20 acres per day being sown — with no inconvenience 

 to the driver. It is as well not to attempt to sow powdered lime on anv but 



