Contributions to the physiology of lymph secretion / by Ernest H. Starling.

  • Starling, Ernest Henry, 1866-1927.
Date:
[1893]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Contributions to the physiology of lymph secretion / by Ernest H. Starling. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    [From the Journal of Physiology. Vol. XIV. Nos. 2 & 3, 1893.] CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PHYSIOLOGY OF LYMPH SECRETION. By ERNEST H. STARLING, M.D, M.R.C.P., Joint Lecturer on Physiology at Guy’s Hospital and Grocers’ Research Scholar. (Plates Y. YI.) {From the Physiological Institute, University of Breslau.) I. On the mode of action of Lymphagogues. In a recent paper1 Heidenhain has called attention to the existence of two classes of bodies, which, when injected into the circulation, have the power of largely increasing the flow of lymph. The first class, which includes peptone, leech-extract, extract of crayfish and mussels, and under some conditions, egg-albumen, and decoction of intestinal wall and liver, seems to act particularly in increasing the exudation from the blood, rendering this more concentrated, at the same time that the flow of lymph is augmented. The second class, which includes crystalline bodies, such as sugar and neutral salts, acts on the tissues, robbing these of water, so that both lymph and blood are rendered more watery. The present investigation deals entirely with the mode of action of the bodies belonging to the first class. On injection of peptone into the blood, not only is the flow of lymph increased, but also the amount of its solid constituents2. At the same time, the solid constituents of the blood-plasma are diminished, so that we must conclude that a fluid more concentrated than the plasma transudes through the vessel-walls. It is chiefly this fact which supports the idea that the increased forma- tion of lymph after peptone-injection is due to an active process of secretion by the endothelial cells of the capillary walls. These bodies, however, have another property in common. All of 1 “Versuche und Fragen zur Lehre von der Lymphbildung.” Pjluqer's Archiv, Bd. XMX. 1891, p. 1. 2 loc. cit. p. 44. PH. XIV. 10