THE ABSORBENT SYSTEM. 95 
their contents into one large vessel, the thoracic duct, ly- 
ing along the backbone, and joining the great jugular vein 
in the neck. 
While the lacteals spring from the intestine only, the 
lymphatics come from all parts of the body,” more es- 
pecially the skin. The two §& 
are closely allied in struct- 
ure and oftice, and both 
empty into the thoracic 
‘duct; so that they may 
be regarded as two sets of 
roots issuing from one com- 
mon trunk. They differ in 
the nature of the fluid they 
contain, the lymphatics car- 
rying transparent lymph, 
abounding with minute 
colorless disks, or cells; 
while chyle has, in addi- 
tion, a crowd of oil-glob- 
ules, which render it white 
and opaque.” Both coag- 
ulate upon exposure to the 
air. The chief function of 
the lymphatics seems to be 
to gather up matters which 
have served a purpose in 
Fie. 59.—Principal Ly RT of the Hu- 
man Body: a, union of left jngular and 
again be used in the blood, — subclavian veins; 8, thoracic duct; ¢, re- 
f ceptaculum chyli. The oval bodies are 
and to return to the circu- — glands. 
the system, but which may 
lation that superfluous part of the blood poured out upon 
the tissues, over and above what was needed. 
Like the roots of Plants, the absorbent vessels do not 
commence with open mouths; but the fluid which enters 
them must traverse the membrane which covers their 
