The working hypothesis in this as in previous studies has been that both mania and melancholia, and probably schizophrenia also, are due to alterations in the internal ionic environment.
In this investigation it is shown that melancholics retain rather than excrete a loading dose of a magnesium salt, whereas controls react with a prompt increase in both magnesium and calcium excretion.
The significance of this and other relevant findings in relation to the “ionic profileneuronal excitability” hypothesis is discussed.
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