MUCUS. 483 
From the descriptions which I have now 
given I think it will be allowed that, inasmuch 
as the mucus which is obtained by the chemical 
analysis of different secretions fails to show, 
when subjected to tests, those agreements in 
reaction which must be regarded as essential 
to prove identity, the question as to the 
existence of any substance to which the name 
of “ mucus” should be applied, as one of the 
proximate elementary animal bodies, should 
be regarded as concluded. ‘That there is 
always a matter present in the secretions of 
mucous membranes, which possesses a gluti- 
nous character, and to which the physical 
Bberies of the secretion are owing, is un- 
oubtedly true; but this is quite a distinct 
question from whether or not this tenacious 
constituent be entitled to the rank of a proxi- 
Mate element: and the fact of a difference 
being observed in the chemical reactions of 
this body. as obiained from various secretions, 
strongly opposes such an idea. In order to 
examine into this question I made, some time 
ago, at the suggestion of Dr. Bright, some 
ehemical observations on those effused fluids 
which partake more or less of the mucous 
character,* such as the effusions which occur 
in ovarian dropsy, and to compare the results 
obtained with similarly conducted experiments 
on other fluids of a more purely serous character, 
and also with seruin of blood, as it appeared 
probable that some point of difference might be 
detected to which the mucoid character could 
be traced, notwithstanding the total absence of 
any substance obtainable in a solid form and ex- 
hibiting physical characters like those of mucus. 
I subjoin the examination of five fluids effused 
in ovarian tumours, and one of a purely serous 
character drawn from a case of ascites ; the serum 
of blood is also offered for comparison ; the 
separation of these fluids being carried only 
so far as the division into free albumen, 
aqueous extractive, and alcoholic extractive. 
These analyses were made on equal weights, 
or nearly so, of solid matters, obtained by 
evaporating each fluid, as previous observation 
had convinced me that the viscous character 
into the nature of which I was examining 
was quite independent of the degree of con- 
centration of the effusions, the most tenacious 
generally possessing the lowest specific gravity. 
Ovarian effusions. Fluid Serum 
‘ of of 
— 
No. 1. No. 2. 
ee 
No. 3. No 4. No.5. Ascites. Blood. 
A Bara sisia's «ADO a oa AIOU. foe a Del Dis ois 40rd Vieis 6 v LAS jess GOD ies eee 
Aqueous extractive ......4.94....4.73....4.79....3.25....7.05.... 1.43... .0.35 
| Alcoholic extractive......0.54....0.70....1.45.... .57....1.79....2.11....0.87 
These analyses at once showed that the 
aqueous extractive existed in greater proportion 
in the tenacious fluids of ovarian cysts than 
in the more serous effusion of ascites and 
the serum of blood; but another difficulty 
remained to be solved, which was, that some 
of these viscous liquors which were less mucoid 
in character than others, did not indicate the 
cause of such difference when the examination 
had been extended only to the separation into 
the three parts above mentioned, viz. albumen, 
aqueous extractive, and alcoholic extractive. 
On incinerating the aqueous extractive, how- 
ever, so as to ascertain the proportion of 
animal matter and alkaline salts contained in 
it, I discovered that, while those specimens 
which showed the mucoid character in a more 
marked degree contained salts and animal 
matter in nearly equal proportions in their 
aqueous extractive, those in which the mucoid 
character did not greatly predominate either 
showed a deficiency or excess of salts; both 
conditions appearing more or less to interfere 
with the perfect development of the peculiar 
tenacious character of the secretion. I have 
now to notice the late ingenious and valuable 
observations of Dr. Babington, who has done 
more to assist this inquiry than any observer 
who has as yet examined into the subject. 
_In a paper published in the fifth number of 
__ the Guy’s Hospital Reports, Dr. Babington de- 
-seribed some experiments showing that various 
_albuminous matters were capable of assuming 
_the mucous character by mixture with the 
alkalies. Serum of blood, pus, milk, and 
~ of egg were all so affected; and the 
glairy mass so obtained was insoluble in water, 
precipitable by diacetate of lead, but not by 
bichloride of mercury or infusion of galls. 
It admitted of being washed with water till 
all traces of alkalinity were removed, but it 
still retained its mucous character. This syn- 
thetical formation of mucus is a most important 
fact; and I see no reason whatever to doubt 
that the artificially formed viscous mass differs 
from that secreted by membrane. It is true 
that the latter always contains microscopic 
globules, which of course are wanting in the 
artificial product; but these globules are, I 
believe, in no way connected with the viscous 
character of mucus, but are rather superadded 
to it, and frequently in very small proportion 
to the mass of the secretion. 
The experiment of Hunter, who consolidated 
albumen by the addition of hydrochlorate of 
ammonia,as also the observations of Dr. Pearson 
on the action of some others of the neutral 
salts on pus, are confirmed by Dr. Babington 
in the paper to which I have alluded. The 
microscopic history of mucus, or rather of 
those organic globules which accompany the 
secretion, is a matter of considerable interest: 
before entering upon it, however, I wish to state 
my reasons why these globules are not, according 
to my belief, the cause of the viscous character 
of mucus. In the first place we do not 
observe them in sufficient numbers to autho- 
rize such an opinion; and, secondly, some of 
the most viscous forms of the secretion do 
not become corrugated to any perceptible 
* See Guy’s Hospital Reports, April 1833, 
21.2 
