johnson 140 saga continues

[thebottomfish]

Hey everyone, have an 88(thought it was an 89) johnson 140. It runs great, when it runs.
Last week I tracked down some chewed spark plug wires, this week, while jockeying for the boat ramp on the way in I sucked up some mud and grass and whatever other vegetation was floating by. Did not notice I wasn't peeing out of the tell tale. Motor smokes..
Ends up the thermostat housing got so hot it melted the plastic nipple that the cooling hoses run to.
No alarm went off, but I shut her down and roped her into the trailer.
Took it home and found the melted nipples, found a wire causally just stuck in(not connected to) the temperature switch(explains no alarm) so I thought now would be a good time to change the thermostats.
Pulled the housing and there were no thermostats instead I was greeted with, for lack of a better description, globs of dried elmers white glue. I'm attaching some pictures and at a complete loss as to what this can be. It's not salt deposits, I just don't have a clue. Tried to dissolve pieces I chiseled off with paint/lacquer thinner to no avail.
I also assume there is no upside to running without a thermostat, but I'm wondering if there's a reason the p.o. took them out.
So any suggestions whether i should run as is or get thermostats?
Previous owner also used fuel injection hose as the cooling lines any reason I should or should not use that?
Thanks again!