5 16 LYMPH-COEPUSCLES. [SECT. 220. 



and then, after partition of the nucleus, breaking up into two 

 parts by a circular middle constriction. This process is almost 

 entirely absent in the thoracic duct, and the larger cells, 0*004'" 

 to 0*0055'", are accordingly scanty in this situation. The great 

 majority of the cells in this duct, at least in animals, are always 

 larger than the blood-cells (00025'" to 0-0035'") ; while, on the 

 other hand, in man, as they were observed by Virchow and mj'self 

 in an executed criminal, they were invariably smaller (0*002'" on 

 an average). The nuclei of these lymph-corpuscles, which are 

 imperfectly seen without the addition of acetic acid, were found in 

 this case to be mostly simple and round, occasionally also notched, 

 or shaped like a horse-shoe, or like a biscuit ; they were very 

 rarely truly multiple. In the lower mammalia, cells with nuclei 

 breaking up by means of acetic acid, or constricted and multiple 

 from their origin, are very rare, apart from those in the act of 

 dividing, yet they are occasionally found (divided into three to 

 five parts), and sometimes in large numbers. 



I have not yet observed red blood-corpuscles in normal human 

 chyle ; but it is to be noticed that they are almost always found 

 in small numbers in the thoracic duct of animals, and also occa- 

 sionally in the lymph of certain organs, as the spleen. Since they 

 do not exhibit the slightest trace of development within the 

 lymphatic vessels, I regard them as elements which have escaped 

 from the blood-vessels. So long as no direct communication of 

 the two vascular systems in the peripheral parts is demonstrated, 

 I am of opinion, that this passage is effected only accidentally 

 in consequence of ruptures of fine vessels, a circumstance which 

 can be easily understood to take place in the peculiar structure of 

 certain organs, such as the spleen and lymphatic glands. Indeed, 

 as I have shown in tadpoles, this accidental passage may actually 

 be directly observed. — I may, however, remark, that I have not 

 unfrequently found in the chyle of the larger vessels, round 

 granular cells of a brown colour, 0*004'" to 0*005'", which entirely 

 correspond with those to be presently described as resulting from 

 the blood, and which probably come from the lymphatic glands. 



From the facts before mentioned, and from the statements of 

 § 218, it cannot be considered doubtful that the lymph-corpuscles 

 have their origin chiefly from the lymphatic glands, in which they 

 arc being constantly reproduced by a progressive multiplication of 

 the cells of the alveoli, in proportion as they are carried off by the 

 efferent vessels. As for the cells in the commencement of the 

 vessels, we may agree with Brilcke in ascribing their origin, in the 



