Filler
Spitting images: our medical philologist, Jeff Aronson, comments
BMJ 2010; 340 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b5064 (Published 25 January 2010) Cite this as: BMJ 2010;340:b5064
- Jeffrey K Aronson, University of Oxford, Oxford
- jeffrey.aronson{at}clinpharm.ox.ac.uk
The Greek word πτύειν (ptuein) meant to spit and πτύαλον (ptualon) saliva. These words came from the same onomatopoeic Indo-European root that gives us spew and puke; spit, spittle, and sputum; spout, sputter, and splutter; spittoon and cuspidor. A ptyalogogue is a substance that induces the flow of saliva, ptyalin …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £184 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£50 / $60/ €56 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.