Studies of Human Mixed Saliva

In 1835, Donne (1) reported that although he found the saliva normally alkaline to litmus, he had found it acid in many diseases, including encephalitis. In 1844, Wright (2) attempted to elaborate a diagnostic system of salivary analysis. About the same time, Simon (3) wrote at length on “morbid saliva” as distinct from “normal.” Among other studies of a similar character were those of Binet (4) in 1884, Sticker (5) in 1889, Dieminger (6) in 1898, Michaels (7) in 1902, and Fleckseder (8) in 1916. Since 1901, Kirk has been the chief exponent of the concept of “the saliva as an