CHAP. V.] PROTEIDS AND FATS OF LYMPH. 223 



The Proteids of the Lymph. 



These consist of fibrinogen, of a globulin presumedly identical 

 with serum-globulin, and of serum-albumin. 



The amount of fibrin which separates from the lymph varies 

 between 0'4 and 0*8 per 1000, being, therefore, much less in quantity 

 than that which separates from the blood. Accurate data are wanting 

 in reference to the amount of globulin, over and above the fibrinogen, 

 which the lymph contains. 



The amount of serum-albumin, found in different specimens of 

 lymph, appears to have varied within wide limits, probably between 

 21 and 60 parts per 1000. 



From certain observations of Wurtz it would appear that lymph 

 yields only about one-fourth of the amount of fibrin which is furnished 

 by the liquor sanguinis, and that it contains rather less than half the 

 amount of serum-alburnin contained in that fluid. 



The Fats of the Lymph and Chyle. 



The amount of fatty matters in the lymph of fasting animals is 

 small. Gubler and Quevenne on one occasion found the lymph 

 obtained from a lymphatic fistula in the leg of a woman, to contain 

 9'2 parts of fat per 1000, but this perhaps represents the highest 

 limit. In most analyses of lymph, the amount of fat found has 

 been smaller. In the chyle the amount of fat is immensely 

 greater. In his recent researches on the absorption of fat and its 

 passage through the thoracic duct, Zawilski 1 has found that the fluid 

 obtained from the thoracic duct of animals fed upon a purely fatty 

 diet may contain the enormous proportion of 14'6 per cent, of fat, viz. 

 about three times as much fat as average milk. Under the heading 

 of fats are, however, included certain bodies which are not properly 

 fats, viz lecithin and cholesterin. Hoppe-Seyler analysed the ether 

 extract of chyle obtained from a fistula in the human subject and 

 found it to have the following composition : 



In 1000 parts of the ether-extract. 



1st portion. 2nd portion. 



Cholesterin . . . 113'2 1409 



Lecithin .... 75'4 88'4 



Olein 381-3 



Palmitin and Stearin 4301 7707 



The Extractive matters of Lymph. 



Like the other constituents of the lymph, the so-called extractive 

 matters vary very greatly in proportion in different specimens. The 

 best known of these extractive matters are sugar and urea, though 

 others, such as lactic acid, leucine and tyrosine have been discovered. 



1 Zawilski, "Dauer und TJmfang des Fettstromes durch den Brustgang nach Fett- 

 genuss." Ludwig's Arbeiten, Vol. xi. (1876) p. 147167. 



