184 



ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HORSE. 



those of the neck, and descend to the front 

 of the chest. Ahnost all these vessels ter- 

 minate in the thoracic duct; some few 

 alone, on the right side, ending in the right 

 axillary trunk. 



"4. Lymphatics of the Left Fore Extrem- 

 ity. — The lymphatics of this member present 

 the same disposition as those of the poste- 

 rior limbs, and are divided into superficial 

 and deep-seated. The former, consisting 

 of diverse ramifications, accompany the 

 superficial veins ; the more considerable of 

 them forming a plexus, which accompanies 

 the cutaneous (superficial brachial) vein 

 of the limb. The deep vessels originate 

 from the foot, muscles, and bones, pursue 

 the divisions of the deep veins, and plunge 



into the axillary glands, wherein they mite 

 with the superficial, and whence they ex- 

 tend to the thoracic duct. 



" The Right terminating Trunk of the 

 Lymphatics. — This very short lymphatic 

 canal is obliquely situated at the entrance 

 of the thorax, upon the transverse process of 

 the last vertebrae of the neck, extending in 

 a direction from above downward, and from 

 without inward, and terminating most com- 

 monly in the right axillary vein ; though, in 

 some instances, it joins the thoracic duct. 

 This trunk is formed by the lymphatics 

 coming from the right axillary glands, and 

 some from the right lung, and right side of 

 the neck and trachea." 



(See Appendix.) 



EXAMINATIONS ON THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE LYMPHATICS. 



Q. ^Miat is the character of the fluid found in the 

 IjTnphatics ? — A. It resembles dilute, liquor sanguinis, 

 or the liquid portion of the blood in -which the cor- 

 puscles float. 



Q. What finally becomes of the lymphatic fluid ? — 

 A. It was formerly supposed that the lymphatic fluid 

 was eliminated from the system; but Carpenter and 

 other physiologists now contend that this is not the 

 case ; that the same is poured into the common recep- 

 ticle with the nutrient materials newly imbibed fi-om 

 the food, whence both are propelled together into the 

 general current of the circulation ; and thus, instead of 

 being eliminated, the lymphatic fluid is employed in the 

 formation of new tissues. 



Q. From whence is the lymphatic fluid derived? — 

 A. 1st, from the residual fluid, which, having escaped 

 from the blood-vessels into the tissues, has furnished the 



latter with the materials of their nutrition, and is now 

 to be returned to the current of the circulation. 2d, 

 from the 25articles of the sohd frame-work which have 

 lost their vital powers, and are therefore unfit to be 

 retained as components of the living system; they 

 therefore reenter the circulation, to be again submitted 

 to the assimulating jjrocess, so that nothing shall be 

 lost. 



Q. By what process do fluids enter the cutaneous 

 Ijinphatics ? — A. By a process of imbibation. 



Q. What fluid is more readily absorbed than some 

 others? — ^. Milk. 



Q. What authority have you for tliis ? — A. Schoeger, 

 in the course of his experiments, found that the lympha- 

 tics of a limb, long immersed in milk, became tinged 

 with it, while none of it could be detected in blood 

 drawn fi-om the veins. 



