DISEASES OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 249 



DISEASES OF THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 



The lymphatic, or absorbent, system is connected with the blood- 

 vascular system, and consists of a series of tubes which absorb and 

 convey to the blood certain fluids. These tubes lead to lymphatic 

 glands, through which 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 passes from the tissues into the 

 blood. The fluid, after it passes into the tissues, constitutes the 

 lymph, and acts like a stream irrigating the tissue elements. Much of 

 the surplus of this lymph passes into the lymph vessels, which in their 

 commencement can hardly be treated as independent 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 lymph 

 glands. These lymph glands are structures so placed that the lymph 

 flowing toward the larger trunks passes through them, undergoing a 

 sort of filtration. From the fact of this arrangement lymph glands 

 are subject to inflammatory diseases in the vicinity of diseased struc- 

 tures, because infective 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 process 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 postpharyngeal glands lying above the trachea be- 

 come affected, etc. 



Symftoms. — 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- 

 mation 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 

 of the glands along the lymphatic vessels may become affected, as in 

 farcy, phlebitis, or septic poisoning. 



Treatment. — Fomentation with hot water and the application of 

 camphorated soap liniment or camphorated oil may produce a revul- 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



