LYMPHATICS. 



than in lymph. Beside* these Kbllikcr describes free nuclei fruin 

 O-OOl'" 0-008"' in size : thews re found principally in the lacteal*, 

 and never in the thoracic duct. The lymph-corpuscles, or chylu- 

 corpuscle* for they both have the same characters are found every- 

 where in the lymph. They are rounded pale cells 0-0025"' 0-0055'" 

 in diameter. When examined in their native fluid they appear homo- 

 geneous or finely granular, and contain a usually indistinct transparent 

 homogeneous sUgntly-glistening round nucleus. On the addition of 

 water the nucleus and contents are rendered turbid by a granular 

 deposit ; and on that of acetic acid they become transparent and pale, 

 exhibiting the strongly-granulated contracted nuclei with extreme 

 distinctness, bursting at the same time and allowing the contents to 

 escape. This change also frequently takes place in the smaller cells 

 on the addition of water, preceded by the apperance of clear albumi- 

 nous drops. In size, quantity, and shape the lymph-corpuscles present 

 diversities according to situation. With regard to the origin of the 

 lymph-corpuscles, Professor Kblliker says they are formed like cells, by 

 the development of membranes around free nuclei, a process which is 

 effected, in the first place, in the commencement of the lymphatic 

 reesels, but also, and chiefly, in the vasa efferentia of the lymphatic 

 gland. To this is added the multiplication of cells by division, which 

 does not always take place. 



The importance of the lymph-corpuscle in relation to the blood has 

 been pointed out by Mr. Wharton Jones in a paper on the ' Blood- 

 Corpuacle' in the 'Philosophical Transactions' for 1846. In this 

 memoir he says : " The lymph-corpuscle of the Vertebrata is identical 

 with the corpuscle of their blood. In the Oviparous Vertebrata it 

 occurs, like the corpuscle of their blood, in the three phases of granule- 

 cell, uucleated-cell, and free celUcform nucleus. The only difference 

 that cxi-ts between the corpuscle of the lymph and the corpuscle in 

 the blood is, as regards the Oviparous Vcriebrata, the little degree of 

 coloration which the coloured stage of the nucleated cell as yet pre- 

 iwnts ; and as regards the Mammifera, the small degree of coloration 

 which the coloured stage of free celkcform nucleus has yet attained." 

 In the same paper Mr. Jones describes what has since been observed 

 by other investigators, that the lymph-corpuscle presents a power of 

 moving its cell-wall similar to that possessed by some of the lower 

 forms of plants and animals, as the Amtebte, Xottochinca, &c. 



From these observations it will be obvious that the old notion that 

 the function of the lymphatics was to carry the effete matters of the 

 tissues into the blood is erroneous. The chemical analysis of the 

 lymph, as well as the nature of its morphological elements, forbids 

 this view. Lehmann, in his 'Physiological Chemistry,' concludes 

 from bis analyses of the blood and lymph, that " the function of the 

 lymphatics consists not merely in conveying those parts of the tissues 

 which have become effete into the blood, from which after undergoing 

 further changes they are separated by the organs of excretion, but also 

 in elaborating the still plastic portions of the blood into cells, namely, 

 the blood-corpuscles ; for how, if this were not the case, could cells 

 occur directly in the lymph if it merely carried off the disintegrated 

 remains of the tissues .' For what purpose would its action through 

 the lymphatic glands be suspended, or at all events considerably 

 impeded, if the absorbents were not, like the lacteals, organs for the 

 elaboration and formation of the blood f" 



( Kulliker, Manual of //tunon Jlutoloyy, translated for Sydenham 

 Society ; Lehmann, Pkyiiological C/temiitry, translated for Cavendish 

 Society.) 



LYMPHATIC& [AWOBBBSW.] 



LYNX [FLLID*.) 



LYO'NSIA, a genus of Conchiferous Molltuca belonging to the 

 Myaceous group. Mr. O. B. Sowerby has described two species : one, 

 L. ptcjo, found by Mr. Cuming at the island of Muerte attached to 

 particles of sand in eleven fathoms water, and which becomes rather 

 irregular in form as it increases in size; and the other, L. brcvifroru, 

 found at St. Helena, in sandy mud, at depths ranging from six to 

 eight fathoms, attached to particles of sand. 



I.YPOKNIX, Wagler's name for a genus of Birds with a moderate 

 ill .Icfended by very long bristles, and both mandibles nearly equal, 



. ^"R,/ hort * nd K"""** 1 . "d the tail narrow. [HALCTOSIDA] 



LYKlfc. UfJHDOnOM&l 



LYBIOCKPHALU& [DIUOOHIHA.] 



LYKURUa [BLACK-COCK.] 



I. YSI'DICE, Savigny-s name for a genus of Dorsibranohiate Annelida, 



neb, with jaws like those of MMCC (Cuvier), or even more numerous 

 than in that frirm, and often unequal in number, have only three 

 tentacle*, and cirrhi for branch!*). [AKHILIBA.] 



LYSIMACHI'A, a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order 

 ArssMrioMsk It has a 5-parted calyx, a rotate corolla with scarcely 

 any tube, and a 6-parted limb ; the stamens are inserted at the base of 

 the corolla, and are S in number ; the capsules open with 6 valves. 



L. tkyrtiflora. is distinguished by its axillary stalked dense racemes; 

 its leaves are opposite and lanceolate ; the corolla is divided almost to 

 the bane into narrow petals, often separated by a minute tooth, which 

 as well as the calyx is yellow, spotted with orange. It is found in 

 marshes in the north of England. 



L. riUyarii has an erect stem, with compound terminal and axillary 

 panicles ; ovate or ovate-lanceolate leaves, nearly sessile, or 8 or 4 in a 

 whorl ; the petals are entire, with glabrous edges; the stamens 6, and 



I.YTHIUJM. Ml 



combined for half their length. This species is the Z. iiunclata of 

 some botanists, and probably thcA vai^x 10 * *A*> j Xfuaotiois of Dice- 

 oorides, lib. iv. cap. 3. 



Z. Nunmuluria, Money-Wort, has a prostrate creeping stem, solitary 

 axillary flowers, ovate-acute sepals, and glandular filaments connected 

 at the base ; the leaves are opposite, roundish, and shortly stalked ; 

 the peduncles shorter than the leaves. It is found in damp places in 

 Great Britain. 



Z. neuioruin lias linear-lanceolate sepals, smooth distinct filament*, 

 and opposite ovate-acute leaves. It is found in woods and damp shady 

 places in Great Britain. Z. atropvrpurea is the AiKTi/uExior 'AvBot Uuffiw 

 of Dioscorides (lib. iv. cap. 3). 



(Fraas, Synopiu Plantarum Flora Churica ; Babington Manual of 

 Sritith Botany.) 



LY'SMATA, Risso's name for a genus of Macrurous Decapod 

 Cnutacea allied to the Shrimps. 



LYSTRONICHUS. [CTSTKMDKS.] 



LYTHE. [MERLANOUS.] 



LYTHRA'CE^E, Lootalrifa, a natural order of Polypetalous 

 Exogens, the essential character of which is to have a tubular calyx 

 with conspicuous complete ribs, petals inserted into the orifice of the 

 calyx, stamens springing from its base or middle, and a superior poly- 

 spermous ovary. They are most near Melfutomacea: and Onayracta;. 

 The order contains few plants of any interest. Some of the genus 

 Lagerttromia are handsome Indian large-flowered bushes, represented 

 in South America by JMpltuodon ; a few Ammanniat have acrid leaves, 

 which act as vesicants when applied to the skin ; and the Heund dye 

 used by Oriental women for their nails is the juice of the fruit of 

 Lairtonia. Lylhrum, Salicaria, the subject of the following cut, is on 

 English type of the order. It is also found in Australia, and has 

 been prescribed in diarrhoea. 



Purple Loosestrife [Lythmm Salicaria). 



1, a flower-bud; 2, a calyx cut open and showing the Insertion of the 

 stamens; S, a transverse section of an ovary ! 4 i a ripe capsule, with its four 

 valves. 



LYTHRUM (from Xi/fti<, ' black blood,' from the purple colour of 

 the flowers), a genus of Plants belonging to the natural order Li/lh- 

 racrrr. It has a tubular cylindrical calyx, with from 8 to 12 teeth ; 

 from 4 to 6 of the teeth are broader than the rest and erect, the 

 alternate ones being subulate and opposite to the petals. It has from 

 4 to 6 petals and a very short style. The capsules are 2-celled and 

 many-seeded. 



L. Saiicaria, Purple Loosestrife, has lanceolate leaves from a cordate 

 base, and whorled. The flowers are in whorled leafy spikes, almost 

 sessile. It is a native of Europe, in ditches and watery places, 

 especially about the margins of ponds and rivers, and is found in 

 Britain very plentifully. The colour of the flowers varies from crimson 

 to purple. The herbage is generally almost smooth, and of a dark- 

 green, but in dry situations it becomes hoary and downy, or in some 

 degree hairy, as well as more dwnrfy in stature. This species is the 

 I.yiamachia of Pliny, lib. xxv. cap. 7; lib. xxvi. cap 12, 14. 



L. hyitopifotia has alternate linear-lanceolate blunt leares. The 



