6 ( I1ARLES F. W. MC CI/URE 



greater at a high than at a low temperature. In experiments 

 of this character in which the oedema was pronounced, the 

 subcutaneous lymph sinuses all over the body were greatly 

 distended with lymph, and in many cases it was observed 

 that the excess of lymph had filtered into the abdominal 

 cavity (ascites). 



A generalized subcutaneous oedema results when the ure- 

 ters have been ligated and the frog remains in water; a 

 localized oedema of exactly the same character is produced 

 when the leg. of a frog has been ligated. In such cases water 

 is constantly and continuously being driven by osmosis 

 through the skin of the leg into the subcutaneous lymph 

 sinuses, as is the case with the skin in all regions of the body 

 when the frog is submerged in water. In the case of the 

 ligated leg, however, lymph gradually accumulates, in excess 

 of normal, in the lymph sinuses distal to the ligature, solely 

 for the reason that the local efferent drainage system of the 

 ligated leg has been completely shut off from the general 

 circulation, through which the oedematous fluid would other- 

 wise reach the renal vessels and the excess of free water in 

 the blood become available for excretion by the kidneys. In 

 proof of the fact that this localized subcutaneous oedema 

 of the leg results from a local mechanical block in the drain- 

 age system, one may remove the ligature from the leg and, 

 after placing the frog in water, one will see that gradually 

 the limb regains its normal proportions. Furthermore, it is 

 possible simultaneously to produce a localized and general- 

 ized subcutaneous oedema in the same frog by ligating the 

 leg as well as the ureters. After a localized swelling of the 

 leg sinuses has developed, as well as a generalized swelling 

 of the rest of the body, if the ligature is removed from the 

 ureters and the frog is placed in water, the generalized swell- 

 ing of the body will gradually subside and only the local swell- 

 ing <>n the leg will persist. If the leg ligature is then removed, 

 tin- Localized subcutaneous oedema of the leg will gradually 

 subside, for the excess of lymph in the leg now has free 

 access tn the general circulation, and the excess of free water 



