Lymphatic system

“ Therefore, it becomes quite a task to regenerate a broken-down nervous system, for those practitioners who are not familiar with physiological chemistry—that is, life chemistry, which teaches the composition of the tissues. The law of chemotaxis will explain it. The lymphatic system also plays a great part in constitutional diseases of the blood. Every degeneration of the blood cells, or dysaemia, is influenced more or less by the perfect condition of the lymphatic fluid. All cachectic or morbid nutrition conditions are due to imperfect lymph. ”

“ Lymphogen contains all the organic minerals in the same proportion in which they are contained in perfect lymph, and if taken as directed, will always restore the lymphatic system and allow it to perform its important function. ”

“ The lymphatic engorgement either exists in the infant as in the adult or has its analogue in the enlargement of the spleen and liver—especially the former, which is almost as constant a phenomenon as is general glandular enlargement in acquired syphilis. The same pathological changes occur, the same infiltration of cells producing, according to their situation, papular, pustular, or mucous patches, or inflammation of such structures as the iris, choroid, or retina. ”

“ If it retains the capacity of growth or of stimulating a like growth, there results a more or less complete transformation of the gland into a morbid tissue like that from which the fragments came. Adjoining lymph-glands may become infected from the first, until eventually an entire series becomes more or less completely transformed into morbid growths. A like invasion of the lymphatic glands may take place through a continuous extension along the lymph-vessels ”

“ Not only is deglutition difficult, but it is difficult to open the mouth sufficiently to inspect the fauces, and attempts to do so cause much pain. The lymphatic glands, which lie in the inflamed area and participate in the inflammation, are greatly enlarged by hyperplasia, the round granular lymph-cells multiplying so abundantly that the glands increase to many times their normal size. Most of the tumefaction is, however, due to extension of the inflammation to the connective tissue of the neck. ”

“ The vessels divide and anastomose very freely, and for this reason they do not, like the veins, increase in calibre as they approach their destination. It is usual to divide the lymphatic vessels into a superficial and a deep set; speaking generally, the superficial ones are found near the course of the superficial veins, while the deeper ones accompany the arteries. Probably any single drop of lymph passes sooner or later through one or more lymphatic glands, and so those vessels which are approaching a gland are called afferent, while those leaving are spoken of as efferent lymphatics. ”

“ The parasite has also been found in lymph-scrotum, a disease closely related to, if not identical with, elephantiasis.
The great mass of the growth in the disease is made up of hypertrophic connective tissue and connective-tissue new growth. All parts of the skin and the subcutaneous tissues share in the hypertrophy. Papillary enlargement is usually a marked feature. The lymphatic glands are swollen and enlarged and the lymphatic vessels prominent. There is marked oedematous infiltration, lymphatic in character. ”

“ Primary enlargement of the lymph-glands with anæmia constitutes Hodgkin's disease or pseudo-leukæmia, in which there may be general hyperplasia of the lymphatic elements throughout the body, with nodular growths of adenoid tissue in other organs. The spleen and marrow are not often affected. Here, too, the diagnosis from lymphatic leukæmia rests with the microscope. ”

“ The study of their development shows that they grow into the tissue as a closed system of minute tubes, which indicates that in all probability they remain permanently closed. If we trace the lymphatic vessels towards the thorax we find that in some part of their course they terminate in structures known as lymphatic glands. From these again fresh lymphatic vessels arise which carry the fluid towards the main lymph-vessel, the thoracic duct. ”

“ If the blood vessels enlarge more than the lymphatic, haemolymph glands result, but if the lymphatic vessels become predominant ordinary lymphatic glands are formed. At an early stage in the embryo pig two thoracic ducts are formed, one on either side of the aorta, and the incomplete fusion of these may account for the division often found in man’s duct. ”

“ What we meet with in all diseases is dead [Pg 108] blood, stagnant lymph, and albumen in a semi-vital or dead and decomposing condition all through the lymphatics and other parts of the body, brain, lungs, kidneys, liver and fascia. The whole system is loaded with a confused mass of blood, that is mixed with much or little unhealthy substances, that should have been kept washed out by lymph. Stop and view the frog's superficial lymphatic glands; you see all parts move just as regular as the heart does; they are all in motion during life. ”

“ The inguinal glands are early involved, and after a time the internal lymph glands follow. The enlargements are at first painless, but in the later stages symptoms are caused by pressure on the surrounding organs, and when the disease starts in the deeper structures the first symptoms may be pain in the chest and cough, pain in the abdomen, pain and oedema in the legs. The glands may increase until they are as large as eggs, and later may become firmly adherent one to another, forming large lobulated tumours. ”

“ Apparently these diseases are more common in adults than in young animals. Some regard them as infectious in character, but this can hardly be the case, as all experimental attempts to transmit the diseases have failed. It is more plausible to compare the development of these morbid conditions with that of malignant tumours, and although some doubt still exists, simple lymphadenitis may be described as an aleucæmic lymphoma or lympho-cytoma, which has gradually become generalised, spreading by way of the lymphatic channels from the gland first affected through the surrounding glandular system. ”

“ Increase of growth in this manner in the neck may cause obstructive dyspnoea and even death. In the majority of cases the spleen enlarges, and in rare instances lymphoid tumours may be found on its surface. Anaemia is common and is secondary in character ”

“ In nearly every tissue and organ of the body there is a marvelous network of vessels, called the lymphatics. These are busily at work taking up and making over waste fluids or surplus materials derived from the blood and tissues generally. The lymphatics seem to spring from the parts in which they are found, like the rootlets of a plant in the soil. They carry a turbid, slightly yellowish fluid, called lymph, very much like blood without the red corpuscles. The lymph is carried to the lymphatic glands where it undergoes certain changes to fit it for entering the blood. ”

“ On investigating the conditions under which in healthy individuals an increased number of lymphocytes enter the blood-stream, we have in the first place to notice the digestive canal, whose wall contains a thick layer of lymphatic tissue. According to the results of Rieder the proportion of the lymphocytes to polynuclears is practically normal in the leucocytosis of digestion, indeed the lymphocytes are rather in excess. ”

“ In lymph vessels the cancer cells may merely accumulate so as to fill the lumen and form indurated cords, or they may proliferate and give rise to secondary nodules along the course of the vessels. When the lymphatic network in the skin is diffusely infected, the appearance is either that of a multitude of secondary nodules or of a diffuse thickening, so that the skin comes to resemble coarse leather. ”

“ The lymphatics far exceed the veins in number and perform a function similar to the veins, gathering waste material from the tissues, also the digested food called chyle, from the stomach and intestines. The lymphatic vessels, also the lacteals which absorb the chyle, all pass through glands, which are extremely numerous, where certain deleterious substances are extracted from the lymph before it is emptied into the blood stream. ”

“ These capillaries then unite to form the lymph vessels and these then convey the lymph to the subclavian veins. The lymph is a colorless fluid and contains numerous blood corpuscles known as lymphocytes. But in those lymphatic vessels, which have their origin in the walls of the small intestines, the lymph, especially during digestion, contains a great amount of fat, so that it has a milky appearance, and for this reason the lymphatics of this region, have been termed lacteals. There are two main lymphatic trunks, the one on the left side is called the thoracic duct. ”

“ Like blood it clots, but clots badly, only forming a soft clot which quickly contracts. The lymph collected from a lymphatic before it has passed through a lymph gland contains a few leucocytes, and though the number of lymphocytes is greater in the lymph after it has flowed through a gland it is never very great. In normal states there are no red blood corpuscles.
The total solids amount to 3.6 to 5.7%, the variations depending upon the amount of protein present. The lymph during hunger contains only a minute quantity of fat. ”

“ On the course of the lymphatics a number of typical structures, the lymphatic glands, are placed, and the lymph has to pass through these structures where any deleterious products are retained, and the fluid thus purified is drained away by further lymphatics and finally returned to the blood. Thus there is a second stream of fluid from the tissues, but one vastly slower than that of the blood. The flow is too slow for it to act as the vehicle for the removal of those waste products (carbonic acid, &c.) ”

“ Lymphocytes are formed in the lymphoid tissues, including that of the bone-marrow. They constitute, normally, 20 to 30 per cent. of all leukocytes, or about 1000 to 3000 per c.mm. of blood. They are more abundant in the blood of children.
The percentage of lymphocytes is usually moderately increased in those conditions which give leukopenia, especially typhoid fever, chlorosis, pernicious anemia, and many debilitated conditions. A marked increase, accompanied by an increase in the total leukocyte count, is seen in pertussis and lymphatic leukemia. ”

“ The subjacent connective tissue is increased in bulk, having, especially in the case of the scrotum, a yellowish, blubbery appearance from lymphous infiltration. A large quantity of fluid wells out on division of such tissues. The muscles, nerves, and bones are not necessarily diseased, although in rare instances they may be degenerated and slightly or considerably atrophied from pressure. The blood-vessels are large; the lymphatics dilated; the associated lymphatic glands, both of the same side and, very often, of the opposite side, enlarged and dense. ”

“ With great patience and moderate pressure one can succeed in artificially injecting the lymphatics without causing extravasation. It may even be the case that only one, or at most one or two ampullæ are affected. Microscopically the ampullæ and trabeculæ are found more or less filled with brown bodies or globi. These are evidently lymph cells which have become filled with bacilli and their degenerative products—granules.
One could hardly have a better demonstration of the functions of the lymphatic glands, as filters, than in these leprous glands. The circulation through them is not arrested ”

“ It has been observed that, in the case of reptiles which lack definite lymphatic glands (which function in man as formative centers of lymphocytes or white blood corpuscles) , the thymus is extraordinarily developed and abounds in lymphoid cells. It has also been observed that the formation of lymphocytes in the lymphatic glands is regulated by the digestive process; for, after digestion, the activity of these glands increases and the formation of leucocytes is accelerated. ”

“ Lymph nodes are also a part of our immune system and produce white blood cells to help control invading organisms. When the lymph is overloaded with waste products the ducts and nodes swell, and until the source of the local irritation is removed, are incapable of handling further debris. If left in this condition for years they become so hard they feel like rocks under the skin. Lumps in the armpits or the groin are prime sites for the future development of a cancer. Fasting, massage, and poultices will often soften overloaded lymph nodes and coax them back into operation. ”

“ Symptoms.— Lymphangitis is a common occurrence in all forms of filarial disease, particularly in elephantiasis, varicose glands, and lymph scrotum. When occurring in the limbs the characteristic painful, cord-like swelling of the lymphatic trunks and associated glands, and the red congested streak in the super jacent skin, are usually apparent at the commencement of the attack. ”

“ For example, Reinbach describes several cases of malignant tumour, particularly sarcoma, in which the percentage of lymphocytes, which normally amounts to about 25%, was very considerably lowered; in one case of lymphosarcoma of the neck they only made up 0.6% of the total number. These conditions are quite easily and naturally explained by the exclusion of the lymphatic glands. It is difficult for the advocates of the view that the lymphocytes are the early stages of all white blood corpuscles to reconcile it with these facts. ”

“ Small portions of the peripheral substance may repeatedly bud off, especially in the large forms, and circulate in the blood as free elements. In stained specimens, especially from lymphatic leukæmia, these forms, which completely resemble the protoplasm of the lymphocytes in their staining, may from their nature and origin be readily recognised. ”