686 



APPENDIX. 



animal matter. (Fig. 401.) Pus and blood-corpuscles are often 

 observed ia the sputum, and occasionally crystals of choleste- 

 rine. 



Fig. 400. Fig. 401. 







Fjg. 402. 



The sputum of acute pneumonia often contains minute fibrinous 

 casts of the bronchial tubes, together with large cells 

 filled with oil-globules, and numerous finely granu- 

 lar cells, similar to pus-globules. (Fig. 402.) 



The thickened sputum expectorated in the morn- 

 ing on first rising, consists of epithelial cells pressed 

 more or less closely together, and varying somewhat 

 both in shape and size. The dark color is due to 

 the numerous carbonaceous granules contained in the 

 cells. 



Mucus. — The gelatinous material known ks mucus, 

 presents difl'erent appearances, according to the pecu- 

 liar cell-structures and pigmentary matters which it 

 contains. It possesses no essential morphological 

 element, the so-called mucus-corpuscles being in all probability 

 merely pus-cells, or modifications of epithehum. According to 

 Prof. Bennett, irritation of a mucous surface causes the exuda- 

 tion which is poured out to be transformed into pus-corpuscles 

 by mixing with the gelatinous secretion. The thick white gela- 

 tinous mucus secreted by the lining-membrane of the os uteri 

 contains numerous epithelial cells, while gonorrhoeal or catarrhal 

 mucus abounds in pus-cells. The viscid albuminous substance 

 in which these cells are contained manifests a marked tendency 

 to coagulate in the form of minute fibres, and constitutes the 

 most characteristic element of mucus. An increase of the cell- 

 elements, and a diminution of viscidity, are indications of disease; 

 while an increase of the albuminous matter, and a decrease in 

 the number of cells, are marks of a more healthy mucus. 



Fus. — Normal pus, placed between two glasses and examined 

 with a magnifying power of two hundred diameters, exhibits 

 numerous granular corpuscles floating in a clear fluid, called 

 liquor puris. These corpuscles are larger than blood-globules, 

 have a smooth margin and a finely tuberculated surface, and 

 vary in diameter fi'om the l-1300tli to the 1-lOOOth of an inch. 

 Many of them contain a round or oval nucleus, which is rendered 

 more distinct oh the addition of water, and is liberated in the 



