251 



incisions half an inch in length penetrating the skin shonld be made 

 with a sharj) knife, to permit drainage. The application of liniments 

 or washes externall}^ is of no nse, and if injudicionsly used may do 

 harm. Complications, when they arise, must be treated with proper 

 circumspection. 



DISEASES OF THE I.YMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



The lymphatic or absorbent system is connected with tlie blcod vas- 

 cular system, and consists of a series of tubes which absorb and con- 

 vey to the blood certain fluids. These tubes lead to lymphatic glands, 

 through Avhich the fluids pass to reach the right lymphatic vein and 

 thoracic duct, both of which enter the venous system near the heart. 

 Through the excessively thin walls of the capillaries the fluid part of 

 the blood transudes, to nourish the tissues outside the capillaries; at 

 the same time fluid i)asses from the tissues into the blood. The fluid, 

 after it jDasses into the tissues, constitutes the lymph, and acts like a 

 stream irrigating the tissue elements. Much of the surplus of this 

 Ij'miih ijasses into the lymjfli vessels, which in their commencement 

 can hardly be treated as indei^endent structures, since their walls are 

 so closely joined with the tissues through which they pass, being 

 nothing more than spaces in the connective tissue until they reach the 

 larger lymph vessels, which finally empty into lymj)h glands. These 

 lyDiph glands are structures so placed that the lymph flowing towards 

 the larger trunks passes through them, undergoing a sort of filtration. 

 From the fact of this arrangement lymj)h glands are subject to inflam- 

 matory diseases in the vicinity of diseased structures, because infect- 

 ive material being conveyed in the lymph stream lodges in the glands 

 and produces irritation. 



LOCAL INFLAMMATION AND ABSCESS OF LYMPHATIC GLANDS. 



Acute inflammation of the lymph glands usually occurs in connec- 

 tion with some inflammatory xjrocess in the region from which its 

 lymph is gathered. Several or all of the glands in a cluster may 

 become affected, as in strangles, nasal catarrh, or nasal gleet, diseased 

 or ulcerated teeth, the lymph glands between the branches of the 

 lower jaw almost invariably become affected, which may lead to sup- 

 puration or induration. Similar results obtain in other portions of 

 the body; in pneumonia the bronchial glands become affected; in 

 pharyngitis, the post-pharyngeal glands lying above tlie trachea 

 become affected, etc. 



Symptoms. — The glands swell and become painful to the touch, the 

 connective -tissue surrounding them becomes involved, suppuration 

 usually takes place, and one or more abscesses form. If the inflam- 

 nuition is of a milder type, resolution may take place and the swelling 

 recede, the exudative material being absorbed, and the gland restored 

 without the occurrence of suppuration. In the limbs a whole chain 



