STUDIES ON INFLAMMATION : I. FIXATION OF VITAL DYES IN INFLAMED AREAS

Trypan blue injected into normal subcutaneous tissue passes rapidly to the regional lymphatic node and is found in lymph drawn from its efferent lymphatic. When the dye is injected into the normal peritoneal cavity it rapidly appears in the lymph of the retrosternal lymphatics and stains deeply the retrosternal lymphatic nodes. Trypan blue injected into the site of inflammation in the subcutaneous tissue or in the peritoneal cavity is fixed in the inflamed area and fails to reach the regional lymphatic nodes. If an inflammatory reaction has been produced in the dermis or in the subcutaneous tissue, trypan blue injected into the circulating blood enters the site of inflammation and is fixed so that the tissues are deeply stained.