352 ABSORPTION. 



long-standing discussion whether any direct communications 

 exist between the lymph-capillaries and blood-capillaries ; 

 the need for any special intercommunicating channels seem- 

 ing to disappear in the light of more accurate knowledge of 

 the structure and endowments of the parts concerned. For 

 while, on the other hand, the fluid part of the blood con- 

 stantly exudes or is strained through the walls of the blood- 

 capillaries, so as to moisten all the surrounding tissues, 

 and occupy the interspaces which exist among their 

 different elements, these same interspaces have been shown, 

 as just stated, to form the beginnings of the lymph-capil- 

 laries. And while, for many years, the notion of the 

 existence of any such channels between the blood-vessels 

 and lymph- vessels, as would admit blood-corpuscles, has 

 been given up, recent observations have proved that, for 

 the passage of such corpuscles, it is not necessary to assume 

 the presence of any special channels at all, inasmuch as 

 blood-corpuscles can pass bodily, without much difficulty, 

 through the walls of the blood-capillaries and small veins 

 (p. 164), and could pass with still less trouble, probably, 

 through the comparatively ill-defined walls of the capillaries 

 which contain lymph. 



Observations of Recklinghausen have led to the dis- 

 covery that in certain parts of the body openings exist 

 by which lymphatic capillaries directly communicate with 

 parts hitherto supposed to be closed cavities. If the peri- 

 toneal cavity be injected with milk, an injection is obtained 

 of the plexus of lymphatic vessels of the central tendon of 

 the diaphragm ; and on removing a small portion of the 

 central tendon, with its peritoneal surface uninjured, and 



T}. Cephalic vein. d. Radial vein. c. Median vein. /. Ulnar vein. 

 The lymphatics are represented as lying on the deep fascia. 



*h Fig. 95. Superficial lymphatics of right groin and upper part of 

 thigh, (after Mascagni). I. Upper inguinal glands. 2'. Lower in- 

 guinal or femoral glands. 3, 3. Plexus of lymphatics in the course of 

 the long saphenous vein. 



