332 



ABSORPTION. 



tion of the lymph, even when it is unmixed with chyle, is subject to great variations. 

 The caseous matter given by Gubler and Quevenne is probably equivalent to the albu- 

 minous matter of other chemists. 



The distinctive characters of the different principles found in the lymph do not de- 

 mand extended consideration, inasmuch as most of them have already been treated of in 

 connection with the blood. In comparing, however, the composition of the lymph with 

 tliat of the blood, we are at once struck with the great excess of solid constituents in the 

 latter fluid. 



In all analyses, except those of Lheritier, the organic nitrogenized compounds have 

 been found to be very much less in the lymph than in the blood. This is generally most 

 marked with regard to the elements of fibrin ; but, as before stated, the proportion of 

 all these ingredients is quite variable. On account of this deficiency, lymph is much infe- 

 rior to the blood in coagulability, and the coagulum, when it is formed, is soft and fria- 

 ble. There does not appear, however, to be any actual difference between the coagulat- 

 ing principles of the lymph and of the blood. 



Fatty matters have generally been found more abundantly in the lymph than in the 

 blood ; but their proportion is even more variable than that of the albuminoid substances. 

 Very little remains to be said concerning the ordinary inorganic constituents of the 

 lymph. The analyses of Dahnhardt have shown that nearly if not all of the inorganic 

 matters which have been demonstrated in the blood are contained in the lymph ; and 

 even a small proportion of iron is given in the analyses by Gubler and Quevenne. 



These facts indicate a remarkable correspondence between the composition of the 

 lymph and that of the blood. All of the constituents of the blood, except the red cor- 

 puscles, exist in the lymph, the only difference being in their relative proportions. 



In addition to the constituents of the lymph ordinarily given, the presence of glucose, 

 and, more lately, the existence of a certain proportion of urea, have been demonstrated 

 in this fluid. It has not been ascertained how the sugar contained in the lymph takes its 

 origin, and its function in this situation is equally obscure. 



The presence of urea in considerable quantity in both the chyle and the lymph has 

 been determined by Wurtz ; and it is thought by Bernard that the lymph is the principal 

 fluid, if not the only one, by which this excrementitious substance is taken up from the 

 tissues. Although urea always exists in the blood, its quantity is less than in the lymph. 



Corpuscular Elements of the Lymph. In 

 every part of the lymphatic system, in addition 

 to a few very minute fatty granules, there are 

 found certain corpuscular elements known as 

 the lymph-corpuscles. These exist, not only in 

 the clear lymph, but in the opaque fluid con- 

 tained in the lacteals during absorption. They 

 are now regarded as identical with the color- 

 less, globular corpuscles found in the blood, 

 known under the name of white blood-corpus- 

 cles, or leucocytes. Although these bodies 

 have been pretty fully described in treating of 

 the corpuscular elements of the blood, they 

 present some peculiarities in the lymphatic sys- 

 tem, particularly in their mode of development, 



PIG. 98. Chyle taken from the lacteals and tho- which demand consideration. 

 racic duct of a criminal executed during m-. , 



digestion. (Funke.) Ihe leucocytes found m the lymph and 



This figure shows the leucocytes and excessively chyle are rather less uniform in size and gen- 

 fine granules of fatty emulsion. 



eral appearance than the white corpuscles of 



Their average diameter is about g-^Yjr of an inch 



the blood. 



others are as small as 



of an inch. 



but some are larger, and 

 Some of these corpuscles are quite clear and 



