SIGNIFICANCE OF THE pH OF NASAL SECRETIONS IN SITU

Despite the fact that scientific investigation of thepHmechanism began more than a half century ago, it is only recently that the interest of practical technologists at large—and rhinologists in particular—has been aroused. The subject of hydrogen ion concentration was poorly defined and lacked a clear, comprehensible nomenclature. With the advent, however, of comparatively new and simple methods for measuring hydrogen ion concentration, it has been possible to awaken the clinician's interest in a type of investigation that has practical application to innumerable and diversified fields. In the realm of medicine, the "pHinfluence" is intimately associated with general health. More specifically, in the case of blood it is of paramount importance. The "pHinfluence" is not restricted to blood alone, for thepHof spinal fluid, lymph—in fact all body fluids, including the nasal secretions—has definite clinical significance. It will be recalled that thepHscale, a means