284 CHYLE. 



Next to the undissolved molecules of the chyle, whose chemical 

 constitution lies even further beyond the range of our inquiries 

 than that of perfect blood-cells, the fibrin has the principal 

 claim on our attention. It differs from that of the blood in 

 generally exhibiting a less considerable contractility, and the some- 

 what gelatinous consistence to which pathological anatomists have 

 applied the term " fibrin infiltrated with serum." Like the fibrin in 

 many morbid exudations, it is occasionally redissolved some hours 

 after its coagulation, especially when the surrounding temperature 

 exceeds the usual mean. It does not often exhibit the fibrous 

 texture of solidly coagulated blood-fibrin under the microscope, 

 but dissolves very readily in diluted alkalies and organic acids, 

 and, after being digested for a short time, in a solution of nitre or 

 even of hydrochlorate of ammonia. It may be completely preci- 

 pitated from the acetic-acid solution by hydrochlorate of ammonia, 

 and again almost perfectly separated from this solution by acetic 

 acid. I found only L'77{f of strongly alkaline ash in chyle-fibrin 

 which had been duly deprived of its fat, well washed, and dried. 

 Like the fibrin of the blood, the chyle-fibrin always contains 

 some of the above-named morphological constituents of the chyle, 

 and is therefore even richer in fat than the blood-fibrin, but it 

 very seldom happens that the fibrin of the chyle encloses in its 

 coagulation all the elements which were suspended in the inter- 

 cellular fluid ; and on this account the serum of the chyle is in 

 general clearer than the original chyle, although it always retains 

 some degree of turbidity, or at all events of opalescence. 



In the serum of the chyle albumen is also the preponderating 

 solid constituent. This albumen has been regarded as imperfectly 

 developed (Prout), owing to the circumstance that it coagulates on 

 being heated, and is at the same time precipitated to a certain 

 degree by acetic acid. Independently of the illogical character of 

 the argument which can assume the existence of a chemically 

 imperfect substance, and we might just as rationally assume that 

 malaria is a more perfect carburetted hydrogen than olefiant gas, 

 or the reverse, every one who has read the observations in page 

 332 of vol. i., must at once conclude that the only difference 

 presented by the albumen arises from its being combined with 

 more alkali in the chyle than in normal blood ; and this, more- 

 over, is confirmed by direct investigation, at least in the chyle of 

 the thoracic duct of horses. The chyle-serum is not rendered 

 turbid by strong dilution with water ; when boiled, it does not so 

 much form coherent flakes as a milk-white, opaque fluid ; and it 



