TISSUES OF THE BODY. 



137 



which it contains. Another peculiarity frequently observed, and which 

 I myself am in a position to verify, is also very striking ; the coagulum, 

 namely, may become red on exposure to the air, a change of colour 

 probably depending upon the generation of the pigmentary principles of 

 the blood through the action of the atmospheric oxygen. 



The amount of fibrin seems, moreover, to be liable to considerable 

 variation. 



The albumen of lymph exists, like that of the plasma of the blood, in 

 combination with soda as albuminate of sodium. Casein is missed, as in 

 the blood also. 



The fatty matters, individually but slightly known, appear partly as 

 neutral fats and partly saponified with soda. Their amount, like that of 

 albumen, seems to vary considerably. Besides these, lymph contains 

 also grape sugar and urea. As to the extractives which are here met 

 with in no small amount, their nature has not been investigated. 



Chloride of sodium is very strongly represented among its mineral 

 constituents, as well as the carbonates of the alkalies; besides which, the 

 usual combinations of phosphorus and sulphuric acid of the system all 

 occur in lymph. Finally, iron also makes its appearance here. 



Although the proportion of water in this fluid always remains larger than 

 that in the liquor sanguinis, it is still subject to very considerable variation. 



Lymph contains no oxygen, or only traces of it; it does, however, 

 possess nitrogen in small amount, and carbonic acid seems to be present 

 in great abundance. A portion of the latter is held in loose combination, 

 another portion can only be displaced by acids. 



On the whole, it would seem that lymph possesses a composition 

 allied to that of the plasma of the blood, both of them apparently con- 

 taining exactly the same proportion of salts (Nasse). But in general 

 it may be stated to be richer in water and extractives, but poorer in 

 albumen, fats, and salts than the liquor sanguinis. 



Not long since analyses were undertaken by C. Schmidt, in which, for 

 the first time, the coagulum and serum of lymph were separately treated. 



The lymph to be analysed was obtained from the neck of a foal, which 

 had been previously well fed with hay : it showed the following com- 

 position : 



1000 parts of lymph contain 

 Serum, . . . " . .955-2 

 Coagulum, . . . 44 '8 



1000 parts of serum contain : 

 Water, . . . 957'6 

 Albumen, . . 32 "0 



Fats and fatty acids, . 1*2 

 Other organic .matters, 1'8 

 Salts, . . . .74 



1000 parts of coagulum contain: 

 Water, . . . 907'3 

 Fibrin, . . . 48 '7 

 Albumen, . . \ 



Fats and fatty acids, V 34'3 

 Other organic matters, | 

 Salts, . . .'9-7 



In regard to the mineral constituents, Schmidt observed a similar, 

 though less marked, contrast between cells and plasma, as in the blood 

 (comp. 75). 



Now, as to the chemical constitution of the chyle, we find it slightly 

 alkaline. Owing to its greater richness in fatty matters also it is more cloudy 

 or milky than the fluid last mentioned, and in general richer in solid 

 constituents, so that its specific gravity lies between 1'012 and 1'022. 



