Klarinet Archive - Posting 000688.txt from 1997/03

From: BKruse@-----.COM
Subj: Mucus question (was Water vs. Saliva)
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 1997 04:05:26 -0500

--------------- cc:Mail Forwarded ---------------
From: dikarius@-----.edu AT MINDSCAPE
Date: 03/20/97 05:44 PM
Cc:
Subject: Re: Water vs Saliva for wetting reeds

All this talk about mucus has got me wondering about the old question of
what drips out of the clarinet. One of the discussions that occasionally
goes on at my house is whether it is harmless condensation or spit. I
always try to convince the other party that it's just condensation.

Now this mucus thread would seem to imply that if it were spit there would
eventually be some sort of sedimentation buildup.

Does anyone have an authoritative answer on this?

Barry

P.S. Just in case this thread hasn't deteriorated enough, can anyone
explain just what exactly mucus is composed of?

_____
Subject: Re: Water vs Saliva for wetting reeds
Author: dikarius@-----.edu at MINDSCAPE
Date: 3/20/97 5:44 PM

> Now the
> bit about accumulated mucus...that's pretty interesting. It seems
> to point out an explanation for why soaking a "dead" reed in
> hydrogen peroxide will sometimes bring it back to life. Does
> hydrogen peroxide break down mucus and aerate the reed?
>
> Neil
>

I checked it out with a biochemist or two: yes, that is possible -
by oxidizing the bonds within the mucus, that could cause the
mucus to disassociate from the cane etc...
Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.
Department of Physiology
University of Health Sciences
2105 Independence Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64124
email: dikarius@-----.EDU