Abstract
The calcium content of human blood serum was determined in several normal cases and in a number of pathological conditions. In the normal cases values lying between 9 and 11 mg. of calcium per 100 c.c. were obtained. In nearly all of the pathological conditions studied, including cases where the blood clotted with extreme slowness, a similar range was observed, indicating a great constancy of this element in the blood serum. Distinct decreases were noted in cases of hematogenous jaundice, eclampsia, pneumonia, and particularly uremia. In several cases of uremia increases in serum calcium were noted on improvement in the clinical condition and following administration of calcium lactate. The urinary calcium excretion in severe nephritis was found to be low and calcium lactate administration brought about but slight absolute increases. Where marked general edema occurred, with or without nephritis, the excretion of calcium was unaffected by increased ingestion. In a case of pernicious vomiting of pregnancy with severe acidosis, alkali administration decreased calcium excretion to eight per cent. of its original value.
It is pointed out that as the red corpuscles are nearly free from calcium, determinations of this element in whole blood are of little value, unless the relative volumes of plasma and corpuscles are known. It appears probable that the wide variations in the calcium content of whole blood in apparently normal individuals and variations for sex as reported by Lyman 1 may represent variations in corpuscular volume rather than in the calcium content of the plasma in these conditions.
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