THE EFFECTS OF SPLENECTOMY UPON THE CELL CONTENT OF THE THORACIC DUCT LYMPH IN THE DOG, AND ITS RELATION TO THE ACTION OF PILOCARPIN.

1. Splenectomy in dogs results in an immediate increase of cells in the thoracic duct lymph, due to the manipulation involved in the operation. This increase is soon followed by a low cell count, attributable to the removal of an important source of the cells under consideration. Several months after the operation, a normal cell count is reëstablished, due probably to a readjustment of activity on the part of other cell-forming tissues. 2. Pilocarpin injections after splenectomy result in an increase of cells, attributable to an increased activity of the respiratory organs and of the intestine. 3. After the injection of pilocarpin, splenectomy may increase the cell count, but it causes a decrease sooner than in cases of pilocarpin injection not followed by splenectomy.