Abstract
The brains of dogs dying with parathyroid tetany contain a slightly greater amount of calcium than do those of normal dogs, which would indicate that a decreased calcium content of the brain is not constant in tetany. The magnesium content of the brain is practically the same in both normal and tetany dogs. The calcium and magnesium content of the feces of normal and parathyroidectomized dogs is similar. During fasting, the excretion of both metals is diminished. The excretion of magnesium, in the urine, in dogs on a constant diet, as well as in those fasting, runs parallel with that of calcium. The excretion of both metals is markedly diminished during fasting. After parathyroidectomy with the animal fasting, the elimination of magnesium is greatly increased, while that of calcium remains unchanged. The augmentation of the magnesium begins before tetany is observed. This increased elimination of magnesium indicates that although there is a disturbance of inorganic equilibrium, it is not limited to calcium. It is suggested that the tetany represents a condition of altered salt equilibrium in the nerve cells brought about by a disturbance in the catalytic processes of the body which increases the acid factors.
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