8 ANATOMY OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



In some of these branched corpuscles a distinct clear nucleus is 

 to be seen. It is farther to be noticed, on careful examination, that 

 these branched corpuscles, or let us say at once these branched cells, 

 exhibit apparently great differences as regards shape, size, processes, 

 and nucleus, for at one place a corpuscle is like the above-mentioned, 

 at a neighbouring place the corpuscle has a spindle-shaped form, 

 the nucleus staff-shaped, and at still another place it is somewhat 

 elongated, and is provided with a very few processes. 



In some preparations, slightly stained with silver, I have been 

 able to make out with high powers that in some instances the body 

 of these branched corpuscles lies somewhat deeper than the endothe- 

 lium, whereas one or the other of the finely granular processes 

 stretches itself perfectly superficially between the endothelial cells. 



The same relations are to be found on the mesentery of cats and 

 monkeys, over large trabeculse containing large blood-vessels as well 

 as on the pleura! surface of the centrum tendineum. We shall see 

 afterwards that they are easier to be found in the inflamed condition. 

 Most abundantly, however, and chiefly, they are seen to exist on the 

 omentum of rabbits, on the omentum and pleura mediastini of the 

 guinea-pig, cat, dog, and monkey, especially on those places where, 

 as we have seen, the germinating endothelium occurs, viz. on the 

 above-mentioned nodules and patches, as well as on the tracts which 

 contain large blood-vessels and fat. 



At present I will not describe the minute relations of these branched 

 corpuscles which project partly or wholly between the endothelium of 

 the surface, as we shall return to them repeatedly afterwards. 



Before leaving this chapter, I wish to say a few words about the 

 method of investigation by which I have arrived at the foregoing 

 results. The examination of fresh preparations in serum or other in- 

 different fluids is of great importance. The membrane, after being 

 excised with the greatest precautions against pulling or tearing, is 

 placed in a capsule with somewhat diluted serum or one-half per cent, 

 saline solution ; after being spread out by slight movement to and 

 fro, a portion of it is separated with sharp scissors ; a glass slide is 

 brought in the capsule, and the portion is floated on it, so as to be 



