298 



ABSORPTION LYMPH AND CHYLE. 



These facts indicate a remarkable correspondence in composition between 

 the lymph and the blood. All of the constituents of the blood, except the 

 red corpuscles, 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. 



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 excrementi- 

 tious substance is taken up from the tissues. Although urea always exists in 

 the blood, its quantity is less than in the lymph. 



According to Ludwig and Hammersten, the lymph of the dog contains 

 about forty parts per hundred in volume of carbon dioxide, of which seven- 

 teen parts may be extracted by the air-pump and twenty-three parts, by acids. 



In addition, the lymph contains a trace 

 of oxygen and one or two parts of ni- 

 trogen. 



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 cor- 

 puscular elements known as lymph-cor- 

 puscles. These exist, not only in the 

 clear lymph, but in the opaque fluid 

 contained in the lacteals during absorp- 

 tion. They are now regarded as identi- 

 cal with the white blood-corpuscles, or 

 leucocytes. Eight thousand two hun- 

 dred leucocytes have been counted in 

 0-061 cubic inch (1 c. c.) of lymph from 

 a dog (Ritter). 



The leucocytes found in the lymph and chyle are rather less uniform in 

 size and general appearance than the white corpuscles of the blood. Their 

 average diameter is about -g-^r of an inch (10 /u,.) ; but some are larger, and 

 others are as small as -g-gVo * an ^ ncn (5 /*) Some of these corpuscles are 

 quite clear and transparent, presenting but few granulations and an indistinct 

 nuclear appearance in their centre ; but others are granular and quite opaque. 

 They present the same adhesive character in the lymph as in the blood, and 

 frequently they are found collected in masses in different parts of the lym- 

 phatic system. In all other regards, these bodies present the same charac- 

 ters as the leucocytes of the blood, and they need not, therefore, be farther 

 described. 



In addition to the ordinary leucocytes and a certain number of fatty gran- 

 ules, a few small, clear globules or granules, about y^r of an inch (3-3 p.) 



FIG. 98. Chyle taken from the lacteals and 

 thoracic duct of a criminal executed dur- 

 ing digestion (Funke). 



This figure shows the leucocytes and excessive- 

 ly fine granules of fatty emulsion. 



