.256 



Dr. W. D. Halliburton. 



for their object a separation and recognition of the various proteids 

 contained in lymph cells. An animal (generally a cat) was chloro- 

 formed and killed by bleeding from the carotids ; the thorax was 

 quickly opened, and a cannula inserted in the aorta ; a stream of salt 

 solution (J per cent.) at considerable pressure was passed through the 

 vessels by this means, in about a minute the large veins entering the 

 heart were opened and the mixture of blood and saline solution 

 allowed to escape. When the fluid came through perfectly colourless, 

 the abdominal glands were removed, freed from their capsules, cut 

 into small pieces, and ground up in a mortar with saline solution ; any 

 portions of the gland capsules which still remained were removed, and 

 the fluid with the cells suspended in it was poured into test-tubes, the 

 cells settled, and the process of settling was hastened by centrifuga- 

 ls sing, the supernatant liquid was poured off, and the cells again 

 washed with saline solution in the same way. By this method the 

 cells were quickly freed from any lymph that might still have been in 

 contact with them. 



Microscopical examination showed that they still possessed their 

 normal appearances, except for a small amount of shrinkage. The 

 supernatant saline liquid was found to contain in small quantities the 

 proteids which were afterwards found in the cells, a certain amount 

 of their proteid constituents having thus entered into solution. 



The liquid which was found best for dissolving the proteids of the 

 lymph cells thus obtained was prepared by mixing a saturated solution 

 of magnesium sulphate with nine times its volume of distilled water ; 

 and the proteids present in such an extract were as follows : — 



1. A mucin-like proteid similar to that described by Miescher* in 

 pus which swells up into a jelly-like substance when mixed with solu- 

 tions of sodium chloride or magnesium sulphate. 



2. Two globulins. 



3. An albumin. 



It will be convenient to take these proteids one by one, and describe 

 the chief properties of each. 



1. The Mucin-like Proteid. — If the cells are extracted with a 5 per 

 cent, sodium chloride or magnesium sulphate solution, the result is a 

 slimy mass, resembling mucus in appearance. The proteid which 

 causes this appearance may be obtained pure by pouring this mixture 

 into a large excess of distilled water ; this peculiar proteid then 

 extends in cohesive strings throughout the water, which in time con- 

 tract and float on the top, and may be then thoroughly washed with 

 distilled water. The following are its chief properties ; it is insoluble 

 in water, slightly soluble in j per cent, saline solution, as shown by 



of a committee appointed by the British Association to investigate the physiology of 

 the lymphatic system (* Brit. Assoc. Bep.,' 1887, p. 145). 

 * Hoppe-Seyler's 1 Med. Chem. Untersuchungen,' p. 441. 



