2l6, ON EXPECTORATED MATTEE. 



Analysis of the When boiled for some time in water, about tliree fourthg 



iiierveitebra" 

 'uid of the 



Unldof tlie^ °^ '^ were found to be soluble in that fluid, the remainder. 



when se[)arated by filtration, possessed the properties of th^ 

 albuminous substance already' mentioned. 



The solution afforded a copious precipitate with solutions 

 containing tannin. It was not at first affected, either by 

 oxirauriate of mercury, or of tin; but after twenty-four 

 hours, a slight deposit took place. 



Although these reagents indicated the presence of a sirb- 

 etance having the properties of pure gelatine iu solution, yet 

 it could not be brought to gelatinize by the usual method 

 of evaporation. 



From these experiments it would appear, that the inter- 

 vertebral fluid is of a peculiar nature; that in its origiual 

 properties it resembles mucus, but that under certain cir- 

 , cumstances it is capable of being converted into modifica- 

 tions of gelatine and albumen. 



The intervertebral fluid of the skate w-as found to re- 

 semble mucus; it did not exhibit any traces, of albumen, 

 but the quantity which I procured for examination being 

 v^ry small, I was unable to ascertain its further analogies to 

 the fluid found in the intervertebral cavities of the squalus 

 maxim us. 



XI. 



On expectorated Matter. By George Pearson, M. D, 

 F.R.S* 



Stages of the J| ME attention of physiologists has been very much with- 

 flmcistomiiach^ ^^ for the last half century, from the consideration of 

 neglected rrom ' , . • . i n • j • 



the humoral the different states of the circulating and secreted fluids, in 

 pathology liav- consequence of the opinion, that the nervous and fibrous or 

 wg taticn mio ' rr. i • .> • • n 



disrepute. muscular systems can afford satisfactory interpretations ot 



the phenomena of living beings ; and on account of the 

 disgust produced by the visionary properties and groundless 

 hypotheses, originating iu the humoral doctrincB of Galen. 



• Phil. Trans, for 1809, p. 313. 



But 



