Absorption. 181 



The movements of the diaphragm, tendons, and fasciae 

 produce an aspirating effect on the lymph circulating 

 through them. In the case of the diaphragm the lym- 

 phatic vessels drain the two large lymphatic sacs— the 

 pleura and peritoneum. Owing to the direction taken by 

 the fibrous tissue of the diaphragm, compression is exerted 

 on the lymph-spaces during its contraction, forcing the 

 fluid onwards, whilst a sucking action is produced when 

 the part relaxes by which the vessels are filled. This pump- 

 ing arrangement exists in tendons, fascia of muscles, etc., 

 and is a valuable aid in lymph circulation. The swollen 

 condition of the legs of horses standing idle is due to lymph 

 stasis ; hence the value of hand-rubbing and bandaging the 

 limbs, exercise, etc., as methods of treatment. 



The whole of the lymph in the body, excepting that from 

 the right side of the head, neck, and off fore-leg, is collected 

 and poured into the thoracic duct, which empties itself into 

 the left jugular vein ; the other parts above mentioned 

 are drained by vessels emptying themselves into the right 

 jugular vein. In both cases the part of the vein penetrated 

 is close to its bifurcation. 



There is no special system of nerves known as governing 

 the lymphatic vessels and spaces. 



Chyle. 



In the thoracic duct the lymph from the body meets 

 with the lymph coming from the intestines, termed here 

 chyle. Chyle is closely allied to lymph in its chemical 

 composition, but it differs from it in containing a quantity 

 of neutral fat, which gives it its milky appearance. The 

 fat is in the condition of fine particles, owing to the emul- 

 sifying process it has undergone in the intestines before 

 passing into the villi. The particles of fat are remarkable 

 for their small size ; these give to chyle what is known as 

 the molecular basis. It is this molecular basis which dis- 

 tinguishes chyle from lymph. 



The following analyses of chyle will give an idea of its 

 composition : 



