TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 127 
_ from a very active inflammatory condition of the smaller bronchial 
_ tubes. In phthisis the expectoration varies much according to the stage 
_ of the disease, and it is only, for the most part, in the latter stages, that 
it is generally found to differ in a marked manner both as to its phy- 
_ sical appearance and chemical habitudes from all other forms of sputa. 
_In the earlier stages of the disease it may be precisely the same as that 
met with in pituitous catarrh, or other decided bronchitic affections ; 
in the latter stages, however, it will almost always be found at some 
time or other, to contain large quantities of coagulable albumen, as 
well as the same principle in the solid form ; so that in some instances 
it scarcely differs in appearance from ordinary pus, of which in fact it 
_ mainly consists. The origin of the puriform matterin phthisis is probably 
_ from different sources; 1st, from the perfect softening down or fluidi- 
fication of tubercular deposit ; 2ndly, a secretion from the bronchial 
_ membrane ; and 8rdly, from the secreting lining membrane of tuber- 
_ cular cavities. One thousand grains of phthisical expectoration of a 
_ well-marked purulent character, being so diffluent that it might be 
poured guttatim from one vessel to another, possessing a distinct 
greenish tinge, were analyzed with the following results :— 
ER ME roche ash eceee iocen been tease eed canene kage ORT SOO 
Albuminous matter with a little mucus ........... 17°387 
Animal matter soluble in alcohol, consisting of fatty 6177 
matter, and a little extractive ............00. Reta oleae 
Animal extract soluble in water  ..........ccseseee seen 5°840 
Salines, consisting of alkaline chlorides, sulphates, 
and phosphates, earthy phosphatic salts, and oxide 1813 
of iron. The base of the alkaline salts was chiefly 
soda, a little potass was nevertheless present ...... 
BE in tebe s cheese sires wUaiece Ws ss Rare nero ree vas sie o ys dod 1-483 
1000:000 
_—__—_— 
The above exhibits a striking similarity between the puriform 
variety of phthisical expectoration and actual pus. In both is an 
abundance of coagulable albumen, in both solid albumen, in both are 
extractive matters, both contain fatty matter, the same or nearly 
the same alkaline and earthy salts; and lastly, in both fluids a no- 
table quantity of oxide of iron is found. Phthisical sputa, late in the 
disease especially, contain a considerable quantity of fatty matter so- 
_ luble in alcohol and ether, and requiring a higher temperature for its 
_ fusion than ordinary fatty matters; other forms of expectoration, par- 
ticularly that of the chronic bronchitic kind, contain the same sub- 
stance, but never in such quantity as in genuine phthisical sputa. 
That crude tubercular deposit is capable of being converted by the 
process of softening or fluidification into pus, is rendered highly pro- 
_ bable from the chemical nature of hard tubercles as well as that of the 
_ same deposit in the most complete state of softening. From a compa- 
