DIGESTION OF FOOD. 



343 



capillaries begin in spaces between the tissue- 

 cells, from which they take up the effete 

 lymph. It is interesting to note that there 

 are also periTascular lymphatics, the exist- 

 ence of which again shows how close is the 

 relation between the blood vascular and lym- 

 phatic systems, and as we would suppose, and 

 as is actually found to be the case, between 

 the contents of each. 



Lymph and Chyle.— If one compares the 

 mesentery in a kitten when fasting with the 

 same part in an animal that was kUled some 

 hours after a full meal of milk, it may be seen 

 that the formerly clear lines indicating the 

 course of the lymphatics and ending in glands 

 have in the latter case become whitish (hence 

 their name, lacteals), owing to the absorp- 

 tion of the emulsified fat of the milk. 



Microscopic examination shows the chyle 

 to contain (when coagulated) fibrin, many 



Fig. 878.— Valves 

 of lymphatics 

 (Sappey). 



Fig. 279.— Origin of lymphatics (after Landois). . I. From central tendon of diaphragm 

 of rabbit (semi-diagrammatic) ; S, lymph-canale communicating by X with lym- 



f>hatic vessel L; A^ origin of lymphatic by union of lympli-canals; j^, E, endothe- 

 ium. 11. Ferivascnlar canal. 



