THE BLOOD AND THE LYMPH. 321 



and scattered. Free nuclei, 0001 — 0002'" in size, and of a 

 more homogeneous aspect, becoming vesicular and granular on 

 the addition of water, I have hitherto Fj g# 290. 



noticed only in the commencements of „ ^ £ </A 

 the lacteals in the mesentery, and in the ^t iP , Ap 



vasa efferentia of the mesenteric glands, JiL ^ omBjk 

 though even there scantily, and never ^* ^^ C^Pf 



in the thoracic duct; whilst the colourless v ^ * 



cells, which are identical in the chyle * fl^\ 



and in the lymph — the chyle- or VL^ 



lymph-corpuscles of authors — are found almost everywhere in 

 the lymphatic vascular system in considerable quantity. These 

 are rounded, pale cells, 00025 — 00055'" in diameter, which, 

 when examined in their native fluid, appear homogeneous or 

 finely granular, and contain a usually indistinctly transparent, 

 homogeneous, slightly glistening, round nucleus; but on the 

 addition of water, the nucleus and contents are rendered turbid 

 by a granular deposit, and on that of acetic acid, become trans- 

 parent and pale, exhibiting the strongly granulated contracted 

 nuclei with extreme distinctness, bursting at the same time, and 

 allowing the contents to escape; a change that also frequently 

 takes place, especially in the smaller cells, on the addition of 

 water, preceded by the appearance of clear albuminous drops. 

 Otherwise dilute solutions, when the lymph-cells are already 

 spherical, induce no very remarkable changes of form, whilst, 

 in consequence of the evaporation of the fluid, and by con- 

 centrated liquids, a considerable contraction, and frequently 

 also, a jagged outline, is caused in them (fig. 290 a). 



In size, quantity, and shape, the lymph- corpuscles present 

 diversities, according to situation. In the commencement of 

 the lacteals, which are eminently adapted for such investigations, 

 in the mesentery, and before it reaches the lymphatic glands, 

 the chyle contains but few, and in the smallest mesenteric 

 vessels which allow of being examined, frequently even no 

 chyle-corpuscles at all. Where they do exist, which is always 



Fig. 290. Elements of the chyle : a, lymph-corpuscles become stellate by the 

 escape of their contents; b, free nuclei; c, one such, surrounded by a few granules? 

 d, e, minute lymph-cells, some with a distinct nucleus ; /, g, larger cells, one with a 

 visible nucleus ; h, one such, after the addition of a little water; i, with the addition 

 of acetic acid. 



n. 21 



