THE LYMPH AND CHYLE. 367 



in the urine, in consequence of obstruction to the renal circulation; and 

 local oedema or general anasarca may follow upon venous congestion in 

 particular regions, or upon general disturbance of the circulation. 



The Lymph and Chyle, 



The tymph is the fluid which, having been absorbed from the various 

 tissues and organs of the body, is carried through the system of lym- 

 phatic vessels towards the centre of the circulation and is finally dis- 

 charged, by the thoracic and right lymphatic ducts, into the great veins 

 near the heart. As the chyle is simply the fluid of the mesenteric lym- 

 phatics, which assumes an opaque white color during digestion owing 

 to the absorption of fat, it is properly studied at the same time with 

 the lymph in general. The lymph has been obtained, for the purpose 

 of examination, from the living animal, by introducing a silver canula of 

 proper size into the thoracic duct at the root of the neck, or into large 

 lymphatic trunks in other parts of the body. It was obtained by Rees 

 from the lacteals of the mesentery and from the lymphatics of the leg 

 in the ass, by Colin from the lacteals and thoracic duct of the ox, and 

 from the lymphatics of the neck in the horse. We have obtained it 

 from the thoracic duct both of the dog and the goat. 



Physical Characters and Composition of the Lymph. The lymph, 

 thus obtained from the thoracic duct in the intervals of digestion, is an 

 opalescent or nearly transparent, alkaline fluid, usually of a light amber 

 color, and having a specific gravity of 1022. Its analysis shows a close 

 resemblance in composition with the plasma of the blood. It contains 

 water, fibrine, albumen, fatty matters, and the usual saline substances 

 of the animal fluids. It is, however, decidedly poorer in albuminous 

 ingredients than the blood. The following is an analysis by Lassaigne, 1 

 of the fluid obtained from the thoracic duct of the cow: 



COMPOSITION OF THE LYMPH. 



Water 964.0 



Fibrine 0.9 



Albumen 28.0 



Fat 0.4 



Sodiijm chloride 5.0 



Sodium carbonate \ 



Sodium phosphate > 1.2 



Sodium sulphate ) 



Lime phosphate .........' 0.5 



1000.0 



Owing to the fibrine contained as an ingredient in the lymph, this fluid 

 coagulates, like blood, within a few moments after its removal from the 

 lymphatic vessels in the living animal, forming a gelatinous mass which 



1 In Colin, Physiologic comparee des Aiiimaux domestiques. Paris, 1856, 

 tome ii. p. 111. 



