MUCOUS SYSTEM. 243 



Q. What becomes of the mucus which is poured out so 

 freely ? 



#. It is evacuated from the various outlets; it is en- 

 tirely excrementitious. 



Q. What pathological consideration is inferred from 

 the vast quantity of mucus secreted? 



.#. Amongst others this, that the secretion, when sup- 

 pressed, must give rise to disease. 



Q. What general difference is observed in the destina- 

 tion of secreted and exhaled fluids? 



./?. Secretions are excrementitious; exhaled fluids are 

 recrementitious. One of many proofs of the excrementi- 

 tious tendency of mucus, is the uneasiness an accumula- 

 tion of it occasions, and the efforts by coughing to re- 

 move it. 



Q. Is this texture full of blood-vessels? 



*#. It receives a great many blood-vessels. 



Q. Where is it most red? 



t/2. In the stomach; and the colour depends on a net- 

 work of blood-vessels, which penetrate the mucous cho- 

 rion spread on its surface, and embrace the papillae. 



Q. What results from the superficial situation of the 

 blood-vessels? 



JL. The frequency of haemorrhage from the mucous 

 tissue. 



Q. What arises from long exposure of portions of the 

 mucous surface to the air? 



A. It is brought to resemble the skin; in certain cases 

 of vaginal prolapsus, hermaphrodism has been affirmed. 



Q. Is there any reason to believe that the redness of 

 the mucous membranes is owing to the blood being oxy- 

 genated through their surfaces, as it is in the lungs? 



