LYMPH. 



467 



Schmidt gives the following analysis of the lymph of a cow : 



Serum, . .''.' 95.52 



Clot, 4.42 



In 100 parts 

 Serum. 



Water, . 



Fibrin, . 



Other albumens, 



Fats, , 



Organic matter, 



Salts, 



Sodic chloride, 



Soda, 



Potash, . 



Sulphuric and phosphoric acids and 



earthy phosphates, . . . . 0.04 



In 100 parts 

 Clot. 



90.73 

 4.86 



3.43 



0.96 

 0.60 

 0.06 

 0.10 



0.23 



The lymph further differs in composition according to the locality 

 from which it is collected. The following table gives the composition 

 of the lymph of the horse : 



The Circulation of the Lymph. The tymph is continually moving 

 in the lymphatic vessels in a slow stream from the lymphatic radicals to 

 the larger lymphatic trunks, and thence into the large veins in the neigh- 

 borhood of the heart, motion being due to the difference in pressures be- 

 tween the lymphatic capillaries and the entrance of the lymph-trunks 

 into the veins. 



Since the lymph originates as a transudation from the blood-vessels 

 in the interstitial spaces, the pressure to which it is subjected will be 

 nearly identical to the pressure in the blood-vessels which causes its pas- 

 sage through the vascular walls. Each volume of lymph will, therefore, 

 be forced onward by the amounts which succeed it under a pressure 

 which is nearly equal to the blood pressure. On the other hand, the 

 pressure of the lymph at the points of entrance of the lymphatics into 

 the veins will be in all cases slight, and sometimes will be even negative : 

 for during inspiration the expanding thorax aspirates the blood from 



