COMPOSITION OF LYMPH AND CHYLE. 



307 



Composition of Lymph. The lymph consists of lymph-plasma with lymph- 

 corpuscles suspended in it. The corpuscles or leucocytes are described in 24. 

 The lymph-plasma contains the three so-called fibrin-factors, derived very probably 

 from the breaking up of lymph-corpuscles ( 29). When lymph is withdrawn 

 from the body, these substances cause it to coagulate. Coagulation occurs slowly, 

 owing to the formation of a soft, jelly-like, small "lymph-clot," which contains 

 most of the lymph-corpuscles. The exuded fluid or lymph-serum contains alkali- 

 albuminate (precipitated by acids), serum-albumin (coagulated by heat), and para- 

 globulin the two latter occurring in the same proportion as in blood-serum ; 37 

 per cent, of the coagulable proteids is paraglobulin. 



(1) Chyle, which occurs within the lacteals of the intestinal tract, can only be 

 obtained in very small amount before it is mixed with lymph, and hence the diffi- 

 culty of investigating it. A few lymph-corpuscles occur even in the origin of lacteals 

 within the villi, but their number increases in the vessels beyond the intestine, 

 more especially after the chyle has passed through the mesenteric glands. The 

 amount of solids, which undergoes a great increase during digestion, on the 

 contrary, diminishes when chyle mixes with. lymph. After a diet rich in fatty 

 matters, the chyle contains innumerable fatty granules (2-4 fx in size). [This is the 

 so-called " molecular basis " of the chyle.] The amount of fibrin- factors increases 

 with the increase of lymph-corpuscles, as they are formed from the breaking up of 

 the lymph-corpuscles; a diastatic ferment absorbed from the intestine; occasionally 

 sugar (to 2 per cent.) ; after much starchy food, lactates ; peptone in the leucocytes 

 ( 192, I., 3), and traces of urea and leucin. 



The Chyle of a person who was executed contained 90*5 per cent, of water. 



f Fibrin, .... 

 j Albumin, .... 

 J Fats, 



Solids, . . . .9-5 



I Extractives, 



l Salts, .... 



Schmidt found the following inorganic substances in 1000 parts of chyle. 



trace 

 7-1 

 0-9 



1-0 

 0-5 



Magnesic phosphate, *05 

 Iron, . . . trace. 



(Horse). 



Sulphuric acid, . 0*05 

 Phosphoric acid, . 0'05 

 Calcic phosphate, . 0*20 



(2) The lymph obtained from the beginning of the lymphatic system contains 

 very few lymph-corpuscles ; it is clear, transparent, and colourless, and closely 

 resembles the fluids of serous cavities. That the lymph coming from different 

 tissues varies somewhat, is highly probable, but this has not been proved. After 

 lymph has passed through lymphatic glands, it contains more corpuscles, and also 

 more solids, especially albumin and fat. Hitter counted 8200 lymph-corpuscles in 

 1 cubic centimetre of the lymph of a dog. 



Pure lymph obtained from a lymphatic fistula in the leg of a man has an alkaline 

 reaction and a saline taste, and the following composition : 



