416 LIQUID PARTS OF ANIMALS. 



the nature of the food was, the constituents of the chyle were al- 

 ways the same. They constantly obtained fibrin, albumen, 

 fatty matter, soda, common salt, and phosphate of lime ; though 

 the proportions of these constituents vary much according to cir- 

 cumstances.* 



Dr G. O. Rees subjected the chyle from the lacteal s of a young 

 ass, taken out immediately after death, to analysis and obtained, 

 Water, . ^902-37 



Albuminous matter, 35-16 



Fibrin, . 3-70 



Alcoholic extractive, 3-32 



Aqueous extractive, 12-33 



Fatty matter, . 36-01 



Salts, . 7-11 



1000-00 



The salts were alkaline chloride, sulphate and carbonate, tra- 

 ces of phosphate ; oxide of iron. The oxide of iron was found 

 in considerable quantity in the aqueous extractive matter.f 



CHAPTER VIII. 



OF LYMPH. 



THE lymph is conveyed from all the cavities of the body by a 

 set of vessels called lymphatics, discovered by Olaus Rudbeck, 

 in the year 1651. The discovery was also claimed by Thomas 

 Bartholin. But it is now universally admitted that Rudbeck 

 had the priority. These vessels, called also absorbents, are trans- 

 parent, and their coats are very thin. They are very small, and 

 do not increase in size by the conflux of branches. Appended 

 to them are a number of nodular bodies called glands or gan- 

 glions. These bodies in the extremities are usually found at the 

 flexures of joints ; but in the cavities they are variously disposed. 

 When the vessels arrive at these glands, they become intimate- 

 ly connected with them, and seem to ramify through their interior. 

 It would be difficult to convey an accurate idea of the course 



* Recherches, &c. p. 158. f phil - Ma S- (3 d series,) xviii. 156. 



