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THE SALIVA. 133
of that from the salivary glands. This seems to have to do with
the moistening of the mucous membrane of the lips especially.
The mucus is very variable, both in amount and consistence.
Often it is very thick and viscous, so much so that, by touching
the finger to a globule, it may be drawn out into a very long
thread.
The variations in the viscosity of the general saliva have
been commented upon by most of those who have examined it in
many individuals. Often it is found to be very thin and watery.
Not very infrequently it is almost as thick and viscous as the
mucus itself. I have met with persons whose saliva was so
viscous that I could at any time draw out threads two or three
feet long by touching my finger to it and drawing it away. In
filtering this, it will leave an unusually large amount of gummy
material on the filter. In such cases an excitation of the flow of
saliva generally causes the thinning of the mixed fluid for the
time, which seems to be due to the larger proportion of the
parotid, submaxillary and sublingual salivas.
There are great differences in the saliva as to deposits.
Many persons are found whose teeth are free from deposits
of gummy or slimy material. The saliva seems to hold all of its
ingredients in complete solution, and is capable of dissolving
quickly all of the ordinarily soluble things with which it comes
in contact. Therefore, the mouth is always clean and free from
debris. In others the saliva seems habitually incapable of hold-
ing its own ingredients in solution. The teeth especially are
continually covered with a slimy, viscid coating, and more solid
deposits are frequently found. Many writers have noted these
differences in persons, and also at different times in the same
individuals.
The salts of the saliva seem to be very variable. If a person
consults many authors, who have reported their findings, he is
soon lost in a maze of discrepancies. Dr. Michaels quotes the
following from Hammerbacher as representing normal saliva in
an analysis of 1,000 parts Water 994.203 Carbonates
Mucin 2.202 Phosphates
Ptyalin 1.390 Chlorids 2.205
Fixed constituents . . 5.790 Sulphates
Nitrates
In normal and abnormal salivas, somebody has found almost
every normal, abnormal and accidental constituent of the body.
THE SALIVA. 133
of that from the salivary glands. This seems to have to do with
the moistening of the mucous membrane of the lips especially.
The mucus is very variable, both in amount and consistence.
Often it is very thick and viscous, so much so that, by touching
the finger to a globule, it may be drawn out into a very long
thread.
The variations in the viscosity of the general saliva have
been commented upon by most of those who have examined it in
many individuals. Often it is found to be very thin and watery.
Not very infrequently it is almost as thick and viscous as the
mucus itself. I have met with persons whose saliva was so
viscous that I could at any time draw out threads two or three
feet long by touching my finger to it and drawing it away. In
filtering this, it will leave an unusually large amount of gummy
material on the filter. In such cases an excitation of the flow of
saliva generally causes the thinning of the mixed fluid for the
time, which seems to be due to the larger proportion of the
parotid, submaxillary and sublingual salivas.
There are great differences in the saliva as to deposits.
Many persons are found whose teeth are free from deposits
of gummy or slimy material. The saliva seems to hold all of its
ingredients in complete solution, and is capable of dissolving
quickly all of the ordinarily soluble things with which it comes
in contact. Therefore, the mouth is always clean and free from
debris. In others the saliva seems habitually incapable of hold-
ing its own ingredients in solution. The teeth especially are
continually covered with a slimy, viscid coating, and more solid
deposits are frequently found. Many writers have noted these
differences in persons, and also at different times in the same
individuals.
The salts of the saliva seem to be very variable. If a person
consults many authors, who have reported their findings, he is
soon lost in a maze of discrepancies. Dr. Michaels quotes the
following from Hammerbacher as representing normal saliva in
an analysis of 1,000 parts Water 994.203 Carbonates
Mucin 2.202 Phosphates
Ptyalin 1.390 Chlorids 2.205
Fixed constituents . . 5.790 Sulphates
Nitrates
In normal and abnormal salivas, somebody has found almost
every normal, abnormal and accidental constituent of the body.
