ITS CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. 373 



elementary analysis, found, as the mean of three experiments, 

 52'1-jf of carbon, 6*97^ of hydrogen, 12'82^ of nitrogen, and con- 

 sequently 28*1 1-g- of oxygen. No sulphur was found, but there 

 -was 4'1 14-g- of white ash, which contained some alkaline carbonates, 

 in addition to a tolerably large quantity of phosphate of lime. 



Scherer obtained this mucus from a sac between the trachea 

 and the oesophagus, which was probably an abnormally dilated 

 bursa mucosa. The mucus could be filtered when strongly diluted 

 with water, so that the morphological substances admitted of being 

 removed. The mucin was precipitated from the solution by 

 alcohol, and was then repeatedly boiled in alcohol and ether. 



We have already referred to the observation of Julius Vogel, 

 which admits so readily of confirmation, that the mucus secreted 

 in catarrhal irritation of the mucous membrane exhibits a varying 

 quantity of albumen. There are also cases in which the normal 

 mucus may contain albumen ; and if we include under the head of 

 mucus, as indeed we almost necessarily must, the mucous investment 

 of the stomach, which is intermixed with the gastric juice, we have 

 a mucous juice, which ^constantly contains albumen (Buchheim).* 

 I have seen the contents of the ovula Nabothi rendered turbid 

 by heating. Tilanus always found albumen together with mucin 

 in the synovia within the joints. The mucous fluid of colloid cysts 

 contains varying quantities of albumen, as we learn from the 

 reactions obtained by Virchow and Rokitansky. 



The peculiar substance named pyin, which has frequently 

 been found by Giiterbock in pus, has been regarded by many ob- 

 servers as a constant constituent of mucus, and even as identical 

 with mucin (Eschholtz).f The erroneous character of such an 

 opinion may, however, be readily seen on comparing the properties 

 ascribed to the pyin found in pus with those of mucin. 



Fat occurs only in very small quantities in normal mucus, 

 although the quantity increases in proportion to the occurrence of 

 albumen and larger quantities of mucus-corpuscles. NasseJ found 

 6*25 g- of a semi-solid, yellowish white fat in the solid residue of the 

 normal nasal secretion, whilst the same mucus contained only 

 4'448-g- of solid constituents. 



The mucus likewise contains extractive matters soluble in water 

 and alcohol, but they have not been very carefully examined. The 

 quantity of these substances is no doubt increased by the glandular 

 secretions which are mixed with the mucus in the stomach and 



* Dissert, inaug. Leips., 1845. 

 t Rust's Magazln. Bd. 10, S. 160. 

 t Journ. f. pr. Ch. Bd. 29, S. 59. 



