104 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



their poisons. Placed, as they are, like sentinels at the 

 points of convergence of the lymphatics, they entangle 

 micro-organisms in their meshes and prevent their 

 onward passage. That they are able directly to destroy 

 these is unlikely, for the lymphocytes are not phagocytic, 

 and it is well known to surgeons that organisms can lie 

 latent in lymph glands for a long time and come to life 

 and dangerous activity again if the gland be opened into. 

 In the meantime, however, the growth of the germs has 

 been restrained, probably by means of a chemical 

 influence exerted by the cells of the gland.* 



* See Manfredi, in Virchow's Archiv, 1899, civ. 335. 



