14 ANATOMY OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



which, on the one hand, undergo division, as at F, and from which, on 

 the other hand, grow up large coarsely-granular elements. 



If we direct our attention to a small patch which is provided with 

 a system of capillary blood-vessels (see Figs. 24 and 29), we see that 

 nearly the whole matrix is occupied by a network of finely-granular, 

 nucleated branched cells, which network is in communication with 

 the isolated branched cells of the surrounding tissue. 



In the same preparation from which Fig. 29 is taken there exist 

 also patches the ground-substance of which has not remained un- 

 stained, but is of a slightly brownish colour ; in this ground-substance 

 we see a rich system of clear lacunae, which communicate with each 

 other by numerous branched and unbranched canaliculi of dif- 

 ferent breadth and length. Under a high power, we recognise in 

 many of the lacunae and canaliculi the finely-granular nucleated 

 branched cells above described, besides small lymphoid corpuscles. 

 We need not render it especially prominent that this system of 

 lacunae and canaliculi corresponds to the well-known lymph-canali- 

 cular system of Eecklinghausen, and that it represents the spaces in 

 which the above-mentioned system of branched cells lies. The Fig. 30 

 may be regarded as a combination of the negative, viz. the clear 

 lymph-canalicular system, and the positive, viz. the system of 

 branched cells, the outlines of the former as well as the nucleated 

 protoplasm of the latter being distinctly recognisable. 



In preparations of the dense part of the omentum, e.g. the pyloric 

 part, prepared in the same way as above, one finds numerous places 

 quite superficially under the endothelium, where the branched cellular 

 elements and also the lymph-canalicular system show a somewhat dif- 

 ferent arrangement, the cells being arranged in small groups, and the 

 individuals of one group being situated round a common centre. In 

 these cases the cells are either very little branched towards this centre, 

 or they touch each other even in a straight line, whereas they are 

 provided with processes in the opposite direction, so as to join the 

 Q g'hbouring cells. In silver preparations the ground-substance of 

 which is stained there are consequently to be found superficial groups 

 of clear lacunae, which are separated from each other by silver lines, 

 and which send off canaliculi in the opposite direction. This, to a 



