Lxiiiplialic Thrombosis and Embolism. 155 



lymphangitis. Because of the rich and intricate anastomosis of 

 the lymphatics the esca|)e of an\- excess of lymph is easy by the 

 collateral paths, and nsually the obstruction is in time removed 

 by a fatty degeneration of the clot. Commonly the lymph stasis 

 therefore, is but a transient feature. Extensive lymph thrombosis 

 may hov^ever lead to a necrosis of the part involved, from failure 

 of removal of its metabolic products and the stagnation of the 

 lymph. Fragments of the thrombi loosened and carried away 

 give rise to little of pathological importance, because of the rich 

 collateral communication and the fact that the paths lead into the 

 lymphatic glands, as well as because of the fine or molecular dis- 

 integration of the coagulated material. Only in case of the 

 lymphatics of the mammary gland is there to be apprehended a 

 direct passage of such material into the blood with consequent 

 pulmonary embolism. 



The lymph channels are important routes of transportation of 

 specific types of emboli, as tumor cells and bacteria as well as for 

 the convection of all sorts of material arising from the disintegra- 

 tion of tissues, dust particles, pigment, and any other minute solid 

 elements. Such substances are carried along, in part free in the 

 lymphplasm with its slow current, partly in the motile wandering 

 Ivmph corpuscles which load themselves with small particles; the 

 pathological significance of their convection varxing with the char- 

 acter of these bodies. Thus by the removal of cUsintegrated ma- 

 terial, cellular fragments or dead bacteria, a tissue or organ may 

 be restored to its proper functional capacity, a sort of street-clean- 

 ing being accomplished ; but on the other hand the convection of 

 toxic matter, of cells or microbes capable of multiplication, serves 

 to establish more local points (or generalization) of the disease. A 

 few examples may render this more clear. In case of hremorrhagic 

 extravasations, as after the fracture of a bone, the entire hsemor- 

 rhagic focus gradually disappears, the disintegrating blood corpus- 

 cles being taken up by the lymph corpuscles wandering about and 

 carried to the lymph glands for further destruction (as a result 

 of which the lymph glands in the neighborhood of such hsemor- 

 rhagic areas become the seat of a rusty brown discoloration). 

 Carbonaceous particles inhaled and lodged in the lung are carried 

 along the lymph passages to the bronchial lymph nodes, coloring 

 them black. Virulent streptococci wdiich have gained entrance to 

 the mouth and pharynx are taken up by leucocytes wandering out 

 and in the mucous lining, carried primarily to the pharyngeal 



