Abstract
Conclusions
Toads without lymph hearts kept in constant humidity showed no change in body weight, whereas other animals kept in the presence of water showed a gain in weight of as much as 20% daily. With a constant body weight the fluid redistribution can be assumed to be internal. In both series of experiments there was a marked increase in red call volume to a point where flow even in large vessels was impeded.
The fall in plasma and lymph protein, and the rise in body fluid, potassium content and tissue water are much greater when water is absorbed through the skin by contact.
When the normal flow of fluid from plasma to tissue space to lymph channels to vascular system is blocked by lymph heart destruction, there is a marked increase in the interstitial fluid at the expense of the plasma. The failure of this edema fluid to return to the blood vessels in these experiments is a primary and uncomplicated cause of death.
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