ON EXPECTORATFD MATTER. 271 



^4. It is njiinifest, that the different stiites of consis- Differr-nces of 

 ^hce of_cX|^( toru-ed matter are owing- to the projjortion of *^''"'''"'^'^^' 

 albuminous or coagulable oxide, but I purposely avoid jjiv- 

 ing- an account, of the different conditions of iiealth, on 

 Vkhich the difference of oousihtence depend. 



5. The thicker the matter, thebmaller I commonly found The thrckest 

 the quantity of saline impregnation. Hence in sudden and ^°"'aii)s the 

 copious secretions of the bronchial nt^embrane, the matter is "^^^^ ^*''*- 

 ajiserted to be salt, and to feel hot. In such instances the 

 proportion of coagulable matter was small, but that of the 

 saline impregnations, particularly of the muriate of soda 

 and neutralized potash, so great, that tiie exsiccated expec- 

 torated substance tasted very salt, and presently grew uioist 

 or even {)artially deliquesced ; but theo[)aque ropy or puri- 

 furm matter afforded a much larger proponion of exsic- 

 cated residue, which was but slightly salt, and generally 

 only became soft on exposure to, the air. This property of 

 growing moist depends on the potash. 



0". Each of the hunuui fluids, accordiiu'- to mv exneri- 

 menis, contaui neutralized potash; at least, this is the fact i>ot«sli in alt 

 of ti»e blood, dropsy fluid, pus of abscesses, and pus secreted ^^^. '^""'^lu 

 without breach of surface; the fluid effused by vesicating "''^*' 

 with cantharides ; the urine; and in course in the very 

 abundant secretion fVom the nose by catarrh. The alkali 

 being united to oxide of animal matter in these fluids, ii: is 

 easily demonstrable. 



7. Although I think I have discovered many properties, ^ 



l)y which expectorated secretion may be distinguished {rom sl?retuTl^Ts 

 :expeetoi;ated pus, I shall not speak of them, on this occa- ^^''"^ than ex,» 

 six)n, farther than just to observe, that the saline impregna- pus!°'"'^'^ 

 tion of ;pus, particularly that of potash, and muriate of 

 soda, is in very much less |uoportioa than in e?cpectorated 

 secretion ; and hence it does not become moist after exsic- 

 cation, OH exposure to the air. 



8. It has been, I believe, uniformly as?erted, that thp vr 



1 X- J . I n J ■ ' > <i<. «■"*; No uncom- 



circulatmg and secreted fluids are impregnated with soda; bincH soda i». 

 that it is especially in the matter secreted by the bronchial ''^® ^"''^* 

 membrane. The experiments of others must confirm or 

 disprove mine. It seems, however, much more reasonable, 

 tliat the human fluids should be found to contain potash than 



eoda. 



