74 GENERAL THERAPEUTICS FOR VETERINARIANS 



These complicated processes are dependent upon the laws of 

 filtration, diffusion, capillarity, imbibition and phagocytosis. 

 Primarily concerned in the processes are the blood and lymph 

 vessels and the white blood-corpuscles, while normal resorp- 

 tion is influenced secondarily by cardiac activity (blood- 

 pressure), respiration (blood aspiration) and exercise (muscular 

 contraction). 



The physiological activity of the blood and lymph vessels in 

 resorption takes place in the capillaries and at the origin of the 

 lymph vessels (interstitial and perivascular lymph spaces and 

 canals, Ij-mph stomata). The dissolved constituents of the lymph 

 and parenchymatous fluids are absorbed into the blood and lymph 

 channels according to physical laws. Active blood circulation, 

 increased blood-pressure, accelerated cardiac action and a decrease 

 in the quantity of the blood exert a favorable influence by increas- 

 ing the filtration pressure. In a similar manner, the aspiratory 

 effect of respiration upon the blood stimulates the circulation, while 

 the respiratory movements of the diaphragm markedly stimulate 

 the resorbent activity of the diaphragmatic pleura and of the peri- 

 toneum (lymph stomata). Finally, the activity of the muscles 

 and their coverings (fasciae, aponeuroses) exerts a great influence on 

 physiological resorption through their continued alternate con- 

 traction and relaxation (pressure and aspiration). 



In addition to the resorbent mechanism of the blood and lymph 

 vessels, the white blood-corpuscles play an important role in resorp- 

 tion. Their part consists in taking up the undissolved constituents 

 of the lymph and parenchymatous fluids (phagocytosis) and on 

 the decomposition and solution of solid tissue masses (histol- 

 ysis). The phagocytic and digestive activity of the leucocytes 

 is a very important factor in the resorption of pathological 

 products. 



The degree of the resorption activity of the individual organs is 

 very different. Resorption is very rapid and intense through the 

 serous membranes with their thin layer of endothelium, their 

 numerous lymph stomata and the underlying extensive plexuses 

 of blood and lymph vessels (pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, pia 



