Dr. Pearson’s Observations 
8 *6 
from ossification of the bronchial or pulmonary arteries ; from 
calculi ; from broken wind, or rupture of air cells, &c.* 
It is secreted also in consequence of irritation of the bron- 
chial membrane by tubercles, vomicas, water in the cavities of 
the chest, &c. The same kind of matter is secreted from the 
nose on the decline of a common severe coryza in many cases. 
It appears then, that this kind of matter is a symptom of the 
most fatal, as well as harmless diseases — it is a symptom in 
one case, of the progress of disease to death, and in another, 
of the termination in health, by being seemingly a critical 
discharge. Perhaps, if these facts had been observed and 
considered, numerous mistakes in prognostics, would have 
been avoided, and better practice have been employed ; be- 
cause the nature of diseases would have been rightly under- 
stood. From this representation, it is plain, that a just opinion 
cannot be given merely from the examination of the sputum, 
without considering the disease by which it is produced, or of 
which it is a symptom. 
The proportion must also be considered of the pus and 
mucus in sputum : it be estimated, by attending to the 
properties of each, as above stated. 
Such a compound as the present, scarcely is produced in 
any other part, but in the bronchial, and mucous membrane of 
the nose, because of the abundant secretion of mucus from 
these membranes. And when it is conceived, that both pus and 
mucus are secreted in a limpid state, from the same or at least 
contiguous organs, where they first intimately commix, and 
then become inspissated ; it will appear reasonable, that they 
* I believe this state of the lungs to have been first ascertained in broken -winded 
jhorses, by Mr. Col man. 
