412 QUANTITY OF LYMPH AND CHYLE. 



The observation that when lymph is collected from large vessels and exposed to 

 the air it becomes red (Funke) is as yet unexplained ; but it is certainly not due to 

 the formation of coloured corpuscles from colourless ones, owing to contact with 

 the of the air. 



199, Quantity of Lymph and Chyle. 



When it is stated that the total amount of the lymph and chyle 

 passing through the large vessels in 24 hours is equal to the amount of 

 the blood (Bidder and C. Schmidt), it must be remembered that this is 

 merely a conjecture. Of this amount one-half may be lymph and the 

 other half chyle. The formation of lymph in the tissues takes place 

 continually, and without interruption. Nearly 6 kilos, of lymph were 

 collected in 24 hours from a lymphatic fistula in the arm of a woman, 

 by Gubler and Quevenne; 70 to 100 grms. were collected in 1J to 2 

 hours from the large lymph-trunk in the neck of a young horse. 



The following conditions affect the amount of chyle and lymph : 



(1.) The amount of chyle undergoes very considerable increase during 

 digestion, more especially after a full meal, so that the lacteals of the 

 mesentery and intestine are distended with white or milky chyle. 

 During hunger, the lymph-vessels are collapsed, so that it is difficult to 

 see the large trunks. 



(2.) The amount of lymph increases with the activity of the organ from 

 which it proceeds. Active or passive muscular movements greatly 

 increase its amount. Lesser obtained in this way 300 cubic centi- 

 metres lymph from a fasting dog, whereby its blood became so 

 inspissated as to cause death. 



(3.) All conditions which increase the pressure upon the juices of 

 the tissues increase the amount of lymph, and vice versa. These con- 

 ditions are : 



(a. ) An increase of the blood-pressure, not only in the whole vascular system, but 

 also in the vessels of the corresponding organ, augments the amount of lymph and 

 vice versa (Ludwig, Tomsa). This however is doubtful, as has been shown by 

 Paschutin and Emminghaus. [In order to increase the amount of lymph depend- 

 ing upon pressure within the vessels, what must happen is increased pressure 

 within the capillaries and veins]. 



(b.) Ligature or obstruction of the efferent veins greatly increases the amount of 

 lymph which flows from the corresponding parts (Bidder, Emminghaus). It may 

 be doubled in amount (Weiss). Tight bandages cause a swelling of the parts on 

 the peripheral side of the bandage, owing to a copious effusion of lymph into the 

 tissue (congestive oedema). 



(c.) An increased supply of arterial blood acts in the same way, but to a less 

 degree. Paralysis of the vaso-motor nerves (Ludwig), or stimulation of vaso- 

 dilator fibres (Gianuzzi), by increasing the supply of blood increases the amount of 

 lymph ; while diminution of the blood supply, owing to stimulation of vaso-motor 

 fibres or other causes, diminishes the amount. Even after ligature of both carotids, 

 as the head is still supplied with blood by the vertebrals, the lymph-stream in 

 the large cervical lymphatic, does not cease (W. Krause). 



