ON THE PATHOLOGICAL MORPHOLOGY OF SOME FLUIDS. 201 



with the smallest molecules, (I have observed this form in the lochial 

 discharge of a puerperal patient. Plate 7, fig. 21, and in the purulent 

 exudation of recent purulent peritonitis, fig. 56.) I have, moreover, be- 

 held peculiar green bodies intermixed with the dysenteric mucus. 

 See the explanation of Plate 7, fig. 25. 



OF SPUTA. 



The mucus ejected from coughing differs according to the character, 

 extent, and stage of the pathological process ; hence I shall first speak 

 of the sputa from normal inflammation ; secondly, of sputa from anoma- 

 lous inflammation, and also on the appearance of sputa produced by the 

 tubercular process. 



Of Sputa generated by Normal Inflammation. 



Sputa produced in the commencement of a catarrhal affection of the 

 air-passages, are found to be white, pellucid, thin, easily drawn into 

 threads, and here and there they disclose within themselves a few small 

 flocculent greyish nubeculse. The quantity of these sputa bears a direct 

 relation with the extent of the pathological process. 



Investigated by the aid of the microscope, the white pellucid fluid 

 contains a very few round globules, filled with primitive molecules, and 

 many cells of nucleated epithelium ; the globules as well as the cells 

 appear immersed in the pellucid fluid (proper mucus), but the greyish 

 flocculiare composed of copious round globules filled with primitive 

 molecules, and linked together with the proper mucus. 



The catarrhal process increasing, the greyish flocculi receive an in- 

 crease, which at length, from a yellowish-white, become tinged of a 

 deeper yellow colour; the more the flocculi increase, the more the quan- 

 tity of white fluid mucus decreases, the sputa becoming globose, and 

 extremely tenacious. 



The flocculi, investigated under the microscope, are composed of 

 round globules filled with primitive molecules and a central vesicle. 

 These globules appear linked with extremely tenacious mucus ; but the 

 white mucus (properly mucus), is a white amorphous substance, easily 

 drawn into pellucid threads, which disclose cells of nucleated epithelium, 

 and a few globules of a yellowish-white colour, endowed with the 

 smallest molecules and a central nucleus. The inflammatory process 

 decreasing, the quantity of globular sputa decreases ; they acquire a 

 somewhat whitish colour, until, the inflammatory process being'finished, 

 all yellow secretion ceases. 



