THE EFFECT OF PILOCARPINE ON THE NUMBER OF SMALL LYMPHOCYTES IN THE CIRCULATING BLOOD FOLLOWING LIGATION OF THE THORACIC DUCT.

In a series of animals in which the thoracic duct had been tied it was found that the relative increase in the number of small lymphocytes in the circulating blood following the intraperitoneal administration of pilocarpine nitrate was the same as for the control animals. While support is brought for Harvey's view that pilocarpine causes a lymphocytosis through the contraction of plain muscle, on the other hand evidence is presented which indicates that the spleen is no more specialized in the production of small lymphocytes than any other portion of the lymphopoietic system.