672 k ABSORPTION. 



Chyle and lymph strikingly therefore resemble each other; and ac- 

 cording to M. Millon, 1 when taken from the same animal at one time 

 the analogy in composition is very great. Without impropriety they 

 may, indeed, be termed rudimental blood. 



It is impossible to estimate the quantity of lymph contained in the 

 body. It would seem, that notwithstanding the great capacity of the 

 lymphatic vessels, there is, under ordinary circumstances, little fluid cir- 

 culating in them. Frequently, when examined, they have appeared to 

 be empty, or pervaded by a mere thread of lymph. M. Magendie 2 endea- 

 voured to obtain the whole of the lymph from a dog of large stature. He 

 could collect but an ounce and a half; and it appeared to him that the 

 quantity increased whenever the animal was kept fasting; but on this 

 point he does not seem to express himself positively. 



3. PHYSIOLOGY OF LYMPHOSIS. 



The term lympJiosis has been proposed by Chaussier for the action 

 of elaboration by which lymph is formed, as chylosis has been used 

 ..3* for the formation of chyle, and hsematosis for that of the blood. In 

 describing the organs concerned, the striking similarity we might 

 almost say identity in structure and arrangement between them and 

 the chyliferous organs will have been apparent. A part of the vascu- 

 Mr apparatus is common to both ; and they manifestly constitute one 

 and the same system. This would be sufficient to induce us to assign 

 them similar functions; and it would require powerful and positive tes- 

 timony to establish an opposite view. At one period, lymph was con- 

 sidered to be simply the watery portion of the blood; and the lymphatic 

 vessels were regarded as the continuation of ultimate arterial ramifi- 

 cations. It was affirmed, that the blood, on reaching the terminal 

 branches of the arteries, separated into two parts ; the red and thicker 

 portion returning to the heart by the veins ; and the white, serous portion 

 liquor sanguinis by the lymphatics. 3 The reasons for this belief 

 were, the great resemblance between lymph and the serum of the blood; 

 and the facility with which an injection passes, in the dead body, from the 

 arterial into the lymphatic capillary vessels. M. Magendie has revived 

 the ancient doctrine; and, of consequence, no longer considers the 

 lymphatics to form part of the absorbent system ; but to belong to the 

 circulatory apparatus, and to serve the office of waste pipes, in case of 

 emergency. Without canvassing this subject now, we may assume it 

 for granted, that the lymph which circulates in the lymphatic vessels 

 is as identical in its nature, or as little subject to alteration, as the 

 chyle ; and that, consequently, whatever may be the materials that 

 constitute it, an action of elaboration and selection must be exerted in 

 its formation. 



It has been conceived, that many of the tissues of the body, the 

 serous membranes, for example, do not receive red blood; and must, 

 consequently, be nourished by white blood. The lymphatics, in such 

 cases, have been considered to be to the white arteries what the veins 



1 Archives Generates de Mdecine, Fevr., 1850, p. 237. 



2 Op. citat., ii. 192. 



3 Kiikcs and Paget, Manual of Physiology, Amer. edit., p. 256, Philad., 1849. 



