156 Proceedings of Poyal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
ferment is fairly active, and on an average 0*087 gramme of sugar 
is formed. In phthisis the ferment is present in normal amount, 
and in pneumonia the amylolytic power of the saliva is above the 
normal during the period preceding the crisis, hut lower after this 
event. 
Heart Diseases. — In the large group of heart cases the saliva 
retains its usual composition, and the amount of sugar formed 
hovers at or about the normal limits. 
Nervous Diseases. — A larger proportion of subnormal cases 
occurred in this group, fully 41 per cent., giving a proportion of 
sugar lower than the normal average. In one case of cerebral 
tumour, the saliva, though copious in amount, contained practically 
no converting ferment ; whereas in a case of locomotor ataxia, 
though the secretion was equally copious, the salivary enzyme 
produced the large amount of 0*111 gramme. 
Hcemopoietic System. — Of three cases of Addison’s disease ex- 
amined, the saliva of two showed marked deficiency in diastatic 
power, while the third exceeded the normal limit. 
Renal Diseases. — The group of diseases of the kidneys shows 
generally a lower average than the normal. In 55*5 per cent, the 
quantity of sugar produced was considerably below the average. 
In diabetes the saliva has a very active converting power. In 
three out of four cases examined, the average amount of sugar 
formed was much above the standard figure. 
In simple antemia the converting ferment seems to be present in 
the saliva in its normal amount. If, however, the anaemia he 
associated with dyspepsia, the average is subnormal. 
In Sub-acute and Chronic Rheumatism the ferment exists in its 
normal amount. 
In general febrile conditions the secretion of saliva is greatly 
Teduced in amount, and this reduction increases pari passu with 
the increase in temperature. This scanty secretion seems, however, 
to possess increased amylolytic power. 
Quantity op Saliva Secreted. 
Gastric Diseases. — In most cases of acid dyspepsia the amount 
of saliva secreted is above the normal. In chronic gastric catarrh 
