8 
HEMOLYMPH NODES OF THE SHEEP 
ostoma columbanum or streptococci. Pregnancy or castration in them- 
selves seemed to have no effect upon them. The same is true of differ- 
ences in sex, breed, variations in fatness or poor nutrition, the locality 
from which the sheep were obtained, or recent hygienic conditions under 
which they were kept. These conclusions confirm Weidenreich's [37] 
observations in these respects. To be sure, the implication is not that 
they are never or can never be affected by all or any of these things. In 
case of the human hemolymph nodes, for example, it will be recalled that 
Warthin [33] reported a definite relationship between the occurrence of 
hemolymph nodes and certain blood diseases, and that Meek [17] also 
found them present in various pathological conditions in man. 
While the above statement gives the usual distribution, individual 
nodes may, however, occur anywhere in the fat near the viscera, from 
the base of the skull to the coccyx. Although no thorough examination 
was made, none were ever seen between the muscles of the ex- 
tremities, as stated by Crescenzi,* for bovines. No node was found 
to be constant in position, in size, or in occurrence. The only con- 
stant characteristic, aside from questions of structure and function, is 
their remarkable variability, and their constant occurrence in fat. It is 
more than likely, however, that the latter fact is without special signific- 
ance; and, as in the case of the lymphatic nodes, it is probable that this 
association between hemolymph nodes and fat has been entirely over- 
emphasized, or misinterpreted even, for the regions in which hemolymph 
nodes occur are those in which fat is normally present in all animals. 
Besides, a similar association exists between the main vascular, lymphatic 
and nerve trunks, sympathetic ganglia, and lymphatic nodes, the kidneys, 
accessory spleens, etc. Besides, many of the pevertebral nodes are not 
imbedded in fat but can be moved with the overlying peritoneum. 
The variations in the size of hemolymph nodes were as great as 
those in number, the extremes lying between those invisible to the un- 
aided eye and rarely large oval nodes one or two centimeters long. Both 
the largest and the smallest nodes were found more frequently in the 
lumbar region, but it must be remembered that this region was examined 
much more carefully and extensively than any other. In the cervical and 
thoracic regions they were often quite spherical, and only from two to 
four millimeters in diameter. The smallest nodes were always more 
globular, and, as already stated, often simulated punctiform hemor- 
rhages very closely. The larger ones, on the other hand, were generally 
*Crescenzi, L. : Contribute) alio studio dei gangli ematici nei ruminanti. La 
Clinic a Veterinaria. Anno 29, 1906. 
