14 On Expectorated Matter, 



paper, litmus paper slightly reddened by vinegar, and cloth 

 siaiued wiih violet juice ; nor was an acid denoted by means 

 ct' litmus paper, except when I had reason to believe it was 

 derived from various acid substances taken with the food, 

 or drink, adhering to the inside of the mouth and fauces. 



" 2. 7'he mucilugp-tike expectorated matter^ according to 

 rny observation, occurs much less frequently than the other 

 sorts. Tt appears suddenly in great abundance in certain 

 bronchial catarrhs. I have seen it to the amount of two or 

 three pints in twenty-four hours. It is also secreted, but 

 less copiously, in paroxysms of spasmodic asthma, and of 

 ihc hooping-cough ; and but rarely in pneumonic or pleu- 

 ritic inflammations, and in some chronical organic diseases 

 of the heart and lungs. 



*' This matter is a transparent uniform fluid of the con- 

 sistence of white of egg; or of a mucilage compounded of 

 about- one part of arabic gum, and four or five parts of 

 water. It is colourless — has a fleshy smell — has a brackish 

 taste. After .standing eight or ten hours, a depoJiit takes 

 place of ftbrous, leaf-like, or curdy masses, some of which 

 are seen suspended in the clear fluid. In some cases no* 

 dules of opaque thick ropy matter, at certain times, ac» 

 company this mucilage-like matter. Under the simple 

 magnifier I perceived irregular figured masses partly in motion 

 and partly suspended. With the microscope, globules were 

 seen ; but larger considerably than those of the blood, and 

 iimch less numerous. With the usual tests there were no 

 "indications of alkali nor of acid, provided the matter was un- 

 mixed with other things. It usually floated, or was suspend- 

 ed in water, when first expectorated ; but on standing in the 

 water it fell to the bottom, evidently owing to the disen- 

 gagement of air-bubbles. 



*•' By standing exposed to the air in warm weather, it 

 sooner grew foetid ihan pus of abscesses ; without becom- 

 ing opaque. Neither could I render it opaque or thicker, 

 by exposure to a stream of oxvgen gas for an hour ; or by 

 exposure of it in ajar of this gas for a month. 



"3. The opaque ropy matter above mentioned. 



** 1st. It is secreted most copiously in that very common, 

 and extensively epidemial disease of our climate, Xhtwinter- 

 cough, occasioned by tubercles, to the amount of half a 

 pint to a pint in twenty-four hours; especially during the 

 winter season for several successive years, and sometimes 

 during the whole of a long life, after the age of forty or 

 fifty years. 2dly. It is oTien the expectorated matter of 



the 



