Calcium in the blood

Abstract

One year ago we read a paper before this society on the “Calcium in the Blood of Patients with Furunculosis and Acne.” We were aware that we obtained very large amounts of calcium in the blood of some of the patients, but were unable to detect our error. At that time we used the gravimetric method and with it were unable to detect any calcium in the filter paper used, although we made six attempts. This year, after perfecting ourselves in the titration method for calcium determination, as given by Halversan and Bergeim, 3 we found that some of the filter paper we had been using contained considerable amounts of calcium. We then decided to abandon the gravimetric method and have used the titration method in obtaining the results given here.

We have made nearly one hundred determinations of the amount of calcium in human blood in the following conditions:

The figures given are milligrams per 100 C.C. of blood plasma: Acne 12.1, 10.0, 9.0, 4.5, 6 8, 8.3, 11.3, 10.6, 10.6, 9.8, 8.3, 9.8, 6.0, 4.9, 11.0, 9.1, 13.2 (16.6, 16.5 repeated), 13.2, 15.9, 12.1, 7. I.

Furunculosis 6.9 (Dr. J. I .I, February 11; 5.9, March II), 9.4, 9.1, 12.0,8.0,8.1,9.8.

Normal 9.8 9.4, 7.9, 9.1 9.3, 8.3, 7.8.

Diabetes (8.7, January 27; 9.4, January 31; 7.9, February 9; I .I, February I I), 5.0, 10.0, (10.0, January 31; 3.4, February 28), 4.8,(7.5, February 15; 10.6, February 25; 11.1, March 2), 9.8, 8.7, (8.8, February 4; 10.2, February 16), 9.8, (7.2, February 8; 6.0, February 11; 9.1, March 2), 8.7, (11.0, February 9; 12.8, February 14), 12.5, 10.2, 9.8, 9.1, 11.0, (9.8, February 21; 10.6, February 25), (7.9, February 25; 5.3, March 7), 3.7, 10.0, 8.0, 8.0, 5.9, 11.1, 5.3, 16.7; 11.1.