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38 THE MICRO-ORQANISMS OF THE HUMAN MOUTH.

The analysis of C. Schmidt and Jacubowitsch^ gives the fol-
lowino- chemical ingredients of human saliva :
Soluble organic substances ..... 995.16
Water
Epithelium ........ 1.34
Sulphocyanide of potassium ..... 1.62
0.06
Chloride of calcium (IvCl) and chloride of sodium
Other inorganic salts ...... 0.98
(XaCl)
0.84
1000.00

The composition of the saliva of such animals as have been
particularly studied with reference to this point, differs essentially
from that of human beings. Accordinsc to Ellenbers:er and
Hofmeister, the parotid saliva contains in 1000 parts
a. in horses b. in cows
Water 991.613 Water 990.000
Dry substance . . 8.387 Dry substance . . 10.000
Organic substance . 2.429 1 Organic substance . 0.400 1
Mineral salts . . . 5.958/ Mineral salts . . . 9.600 j
Salts soluble in Salts soluble in
water .... 4.580 water .... 9.550
ClNa 2.364 ClNa 0.440^
CO3 alkali ....
CO3 alkali . . . 1.775 7.460
>
Phosphates of the Sulphates and phos-
alkalies and sul- phates of alkalies 1.650^
phates .... 0.441 CaCOg insoluble in
water ....
CaCOg insoluble in 0.050
w^ater .... 1.378

The great amount of carbonate of the alkalies is specially note-
it imparts a strong alkaline reaction to animal saliva,
worthy ;
and is well calculated to neutralize such acids as may be formed
in ther animal mouth, thus tending to prevent the appearance of
caries.
Ellenberger and Hofmeister*^' ** have carefully examined the
saliva of various animals (domestic mammals). According to