Salivation

“ Beddoes, it is stated that a grain and a half, taken at once in half an ounce of rectified spirit, causes immediately “a great burning in the throat and stomach, and quickly afterwards a copious salivation, lasting between an hour and a half and two hours, and amounting frequently to more than a quart.” [912] These facts have been appealed to by authors in medical jurisprudence as proving the rapid production of mercurial salivation. But the effect produced is not the specific ptyalism of mercury; for its brief duration is scarcely consistent with this supposition. ”

“ It is unnecessary to detail the proofs to be found in the dead body of mercurial salivation having existed during life. They are of course to be looked for in the mouth, and in the adjoining organs. We must not, however, expect to see much appearance of disease in the salivary glands; for according to Cruveilhier, in persons who die of mercurial salivation these glands do not present any trace of inflammation themselves, but merely serous effusion into the cellular tissue around them. ”

“ In dogs it is not unusual for the salivation to be manifested before any other constitutional symptom, and in them a chewing movement of the jaw and lips is often seen immediately before the salivation. ”

“ The depletion in this way is gradual, whereby fainting is prevented. By exciting and inflaming the glands of the mouth and throat, excitement and inflammation are abstracted from more vital parts. In morbid congestion and excitement in the brain, a salivation is of eminent service, from the proximity of the discharge [311] to the part affected. But I object to it, as an exclusive evacuant in the cure of fever,
1. Because it is sometimes impossible, by the largest doses of mercury, to excite it, when the exigences of the system render it most necessary. ”

“ No statical experiments can ascertain the quantity of our perspiration; as a continued absorption of the moisture of the atmosphere exists at the same time both by the cutaneous and pulmonary lymphatics.
3. Every gland is capable of being excited into greater exertions by an appropriated stimulus applied either by its mixture with the blood immediately to the secerning vessel, or applied externally to its excretory duct. Thus mercury internally promotes an increased salivation, and pyrethrum externally applied to the excretory ducts of the salival glands. ”

“ A singular account of an epidemic salivation which occurred in connection with a continued tertian fever, 321has been given in an inaugural dissertation contained in one of Haller’s Collections. The author, Quelmalz, says that the ptyalism sometimes continued for three weeks, that it was in one instance as great in extent as the most violent mercurial salivation, and that it was accompanied by fetor, superficial ulceration of the mouth, pustules on the tongue, relaxation of the gums, and looseness of the teeth. [936]
Salivation may likewise be produced by the influence of the imagination. ”

“ In sleep the secretions have generally been supposed to be diminished, as the expectorated mucus in coughs, the fluids discharged in diarrhœas, and in salivation, except indeed the secretion of sweat, which is often visibly increased. ”

“ A salivation should be excited as speedily as possible, by means of mercury. Dr. Cheyne [274] commends it in high terms. I have once used it with success. The mercury, when used in this way, brings into action an immense mass of latent excitement, and afterwards diffuses it equally through every part of the body.
12. Besides these internal remedies, frictions with brandy, and volatile liniment, should be used to the stomach and bowels. Blisters should be applied to parts in which congestion or pain is seated, and stimulating cataplasms should be applied to the lower limbs. ”

“ Independent of that affection of the gums and mouth, which, for the most part, is the forerunner of salivation, it sometimes happens, even where no particular exposure to cold can be blamed as a cause, that the whole head is remarkably swelled. ”

“ Their tender condition unfits them for supporting a salivation, and makes it necessary to administer even the mildest preparations of mercury to them with a sparing hand. A similar conduct is recommended in the treatment of old persons, who have the misfortune to labour under a confirmed lues. No doubt the infirmities of age must render people less able to undergo the fatigues of a salivation ”

“ Lawrie to be capable of exciting in certain constitutions an affection resembling cynanche laryngea in its symptoms, consisting of inflammation of the salivary glands, glottis, and other adjacent parts, and proving sometimes fatal. [355] This property is doubtful; but several instances have been published of profuse salivation and soreness of the mouth during a course of iodine; it is apt to cause chronic irritation of the Schneiderian membrane; and some think that it may affect in like manner the bronchial membrane in the lungs. ”

“ It promotes the flow of saliva, which is a most necessary part of the process of digestion. Insalivation of food is part of the digestive process, and certain work is done by the saliva which can not be performed by the other digestive juices. Physiologists teach most positively that thorough mastication and proper insalivation of the food are prerequisites of normal digestion, and form a most necessary part of the process. Certain specialists have gone much further and have given to the process of mastication and insalivation much more importance than have the general run of physiologists. ”

“ Then follow salivation, difficulty in swallowing, and vomiting, and generally diarrhœa, pain in the kidneys, irritation of the bladder, priapism, and strangury, are all present. The pulse is accelerated, the breathing disturbed, there are pains in the head, and often mydriasis, giddiness, insensibility, delirium, and convulsions; trismus has been noticed. The desire to micturate frequently is urgent, the urine is generally bloody, and contains pus. Pregnant women have been known to abort. ”

“ The saliva is thus naturally poured into the mouth only during the stimulus of our food in mastication; for when there is too great an exhalation of the mucilaginous secretion from the membranes, which line the mouth, or too great an absorption of it, the mouth becomes dry, though there is no deficiency in the quantity of saliva; as in those who sleep with their mouths open, and in some fevers. ”

“ This fluid, called the saliva, is what you feel in the mouth when the mouth waters, as we say. The two largest of these factories are just below your ears. It is these that swell up so much when one has the mumps. These saliva factories do a moderate business generally. Most of the time they only make enough liquid to keep the mouth moist. Sometimes they do not make enough even for this. This is the case when your mouth gets dry, as it is apt to do in fever. When you eat, these factories do a brisk business, for they then have to make a good deal of fluid to mix with the food. ”

“ Is not the secretion of the saliva and gastric juice synchronous? It is highly probable from long habit, the actions of these two sets of vessels become associated; hence, when the stomach and its vessels are irritated, as in nausea, there is always a flow of saliva, though nothing stimulating has been applied to the mouth. The excitement of the vessels of the one seems to keep pace with that of the other; when the nausea is so great that vomiting is just at hand, the flow of the saliva is proportionally increased ”

“ I have reason to conclude that the increased secretion of saliva is caused, not so much by the action of the chloroform on the mucous membrane of the mouth, and the extremities of the gland ducts, as by its action on the capillary circulation of the glands themselves; for on inhaling the vapour carefully by the nostrils, so that none enters the mouth, I still find that there is an increased secretion of saliva. ”

“ When any solid or fluid substance is placed upon the tongue, or in contact with the inner surface of the cheeks, by an involuntary act, the salivary glands are stimulated to activity, and commence pouring the saliva into the mouth through the salivary ducts. As soon as mastication commences, the contraction of the masseter and other muscles employed in mastication stimulates the salivary glands to increased action, and a still greater quantity of saliva is secreted and forced upon the food, which is constantly being ground to a finer condition, until it is sufficiently reduced for deglutition. ”

“ Breathe upon a mirror, and a film of moisture will show the vapor. [Footnote: There is a close relation between the functions of the skin, the lungs, and the kidneys—the scavengers of the body. They all carry off water from the blood, and when the function of one of the three is, in this respect, interfered with, the others are called upon to perform its functions. When the function of perspiration is deranged, the lungs and kidneys are required to perform heavier duty, and this may lead to disease (see p. 62) .] ”

“ Watch a child take its nourishment in natural manner. The sucking action is like the act of mastication in that it excites the glands which supply fluids to the mouth. Whatever number of these fluids there may be, I will class them all as saliva. Certainly in the case of milk being taken into the stomach, saliva is not needed to lubricate it. It is, therefore, reasonable to suppose that saliva is intended as a part of the mixture necessary to digestion; that is, to the conversion of the food into nutriment. ”

“ Even the mere thought of food will at times cause the saliva to flow, as when the appetite is stimulated by the sight or smell of some savory article; so that the common expression is correct that "the mouth waters" for the favorite articles of food. Anxiety and grief prevent its flow, and cause "the tongue to cleave to the roof of the mouth." In the horse and other animals, that feed upon dry and coarse fodder, and require an abundant supply of saliva, we find large salivary glands, as well as powerful muscles of mastication. ”

“ A preternatural flow of saliva is likewise sometimes occasioned by a disease of the voluntary power; for if we think about our saliva, and determine not to swallow it, or not to spit it out, an exertion is produced by the will, and more saliva is secreted against our wish ”

“ So the secretion of saliva, which in young children is copiously produced by irritation, and drops from their mouths, is frequently attended with the agreeable sensation produced by the mastication of tasteful food;, till at length the sight of such food to a hungry person excites into action these salival glands ”

“ Herein lies the great secret of hydropathy: by its modes of application, morbid humours are drawn to the surface and eliminated, the body is cooled, and the skin put into a state to perform its indispensable duty. In internal inflammations, the morbid heat from the internal skin or mucous membrane is drawn off by the application of cold and irritation to the surface, and the disease subdued without charging the stomach with anything but pure spring water, which in contradistinction to drugs, produces the most salubrious effects. ”

“ We do not chew our food simply to make it fine enough to swallow, but for quite another reason as well. In our mouths there is a fluid called saliva. Think of something that you are very fond of eating, and the mere thought of it makes the saliva come into your mouth. This saliva has a very important duty to perform in connection with preparing the food for the little cells of the body. Each little grain of starch—and you will remember that all vegetable foods are composed largely of starch—has a capsule about it. ”

“ Nearly a pint of saliva is furnished every twenty-four hours for the use of an adult. When the food has been masticated and mixed with the saliva, it is then passed into the stomach, where it is acted upon by a juice secreted by the filaments of that organ, and poured into the stomach in large quantities whenever food comes in contact with its mucous coats. ”

“ Of all the Natural waters the power is, upon the whole, desiccant and calefacient; and they are peculiarly fitted for those of a humid and cold habit. The nitrous and saltish are beneficial to the head, to defluxions of the chest, to a watery stomach, to dropsies, to swellings after diseases, and to collections of phlegm. The aluminous are fitted for spitting of blood, vomiting from the stomach, immoderate menstrual discharges of women, and repeated miscarriages. The sulphureous are soothing and warming to the nerves, and relieve lassitude, but weaken and upset the stomach. ”

“ But the blood and other fluids of the body contain much saline matter of various kinds, sulphates, muriates, phosphates, and other saline compounds of potash, soda, lime, and magnesia. All these have their special functions to perform in the animal economy, and of each of them an undetermined quantity daily escapes from the body in the perspiration, in the urine, or in the solid excretions. ”

“ Besides the quiescence of the minute vessels of the lungs, there are many other systems of vessels which become torpid from their irritative associations with those of the skin, as the absorbents of the bladder and intestines; whence an evacuation of pale urine occurs, when the naked skin is exposed only to the coldness of the atmosphere; and sprinkling the naked body with cold water is known to remove even pertinacious constipation of the bowels. ”