ON THE PHTSIOLOGT OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 151 



to deal, as the cell-nuclei are exceedingly insoluble, and are not attacked 

 at all by such reagents as | per cent, sodiam chloride ; this proteid, which 

 assumes a mucinoid appearance on treatment with sodium chloride, is 

 undoubtedly a constituent of the cell protoplasm : and the question, Is it 

 mucin ? is not au idle one, as the degeneration of cell protoplasm into 

 mucin is one which is constantly taking place, in such situations as the 

 submaxillary gland, or the epithelium cells of the respiratory and ali- 

 mentary tracts, to form goblet cells. 



I think, however, that this proteid is not mucin, but only resembles it 

 in certain physical characteristics, as well as in a few tests : it is precipi- 

 tated by tannin, which does not precipitate mucin ; the best proof, how- 

 ever, of its identity or non-identity would be an elementary analysis ; this 

 I have not made as yet. My present chief ground for believing this 

 substance not to be mucin is that it is not a glucoside, like mucin, or at 

 least that prolonged boiling with sulphuric acid does not cause it to yield 

 any substance which has a reducing action on cupric hydi-ate. I look 

 upon this substance as a globulin, but one which is much more readily 

 precipitated by neutral salts than most other globulins are ; a proportion 

 of 5 per cent, of sodium chloride, for instance, in its solutions rendering 

 it insoluble. The precipitate, moreover, is not of the usual fine flocculent 

 character, but a slimy, mucus-like one. In my investigation on muscle 

 plasma, I showed that the precipitate of the proteid called myosinogen 

 is of a similar slimy appearance, though to a much less degree. The 

 name I propose for this proteid is mucinoid globulin. 



The question which I have in the last place investigated is whether 

 there exists in lymph-cells any substance like myosin. Myosin is the 

 substance which separates from muscle plasma after death, in the same 

 way that fibrin separates from blood plasma. In the case of muscle this 

 coagulation is accompanied by the formation of a lactic acid. Now we 

 have in the case of the lymph cells seen that there is a formation of acid ; 

 is there any simultaneous formation of a solid proteid analogous to myosin 

 or fibrin ? I have tried to answer this question by experiments similar 

 to those by which Kiihne obtained muscle plasma from frogs, and which 

 I have lately extended to mammals. But hitherto this question has been 

 answered in the negative. By employing strong pressure upon the glands 

 frozen immediately after removal from the body, I have been able to 

 express from them a juice ; but one, however, which underwent no spon- 

 taneous coagulation on exposure to a temperature of 85°-40° C. Similarly 

 extracts of the frozen glands with solutions of sodium sulphate of various 

 strengths, did not undergo coagulation when subsequently diluted to 

 various extents with water, and exposed in an incubator to the tempera- 

 ture of 36° C. In other words, such experimental methods that enable 

 one to study the coagulation of blood or of muscle, lead in the case of the 

 lymph-cells to an entirely negative result. Miescher in his examination 

 of pus cells came to an exactly similar conclusion. 



This research is at present incomplete ; up till now all that has been 

 attempted is a separation and recognition of the various proteids in the 

 cells which can be extracted by saline fluids. A very important point is 

 the determination of the influences these various constituents have upon 

 the coagulation of the blood, on account of some recent observations by 

 Dr. Wooldridge. To this question I hope to be able next year to apply 

 myself. 



W. D, Hallibueton. 



