The difference in the clearance of interstitial albumin by the lymphatics from the stomach and the small and large intestine.

The capacity of the lymphatics to clear interstitial albumin was compared between the stomach, small intestine, and colon. The lymphatic and vascular transport in the stomach and colon was similar, clearing approximately 9 per cent of interstitially injected radioiodinated serum albumin by the thoracic duct lymph and 2 to 3 per cent by the blood in a five hour period. More than a third of the injected material remained at the site of injection. The small intestine was cleared of 37 per cent of the albumin by the lymph and more than 6 per cent by the blood, leaving less than 9 per cent at the injection site in the same period of time. Evidence that the small intestine was more effective and rapid in clearing interstitial albumin than either the stomach or colon was statistically significant.