Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
spongy texture, the cells or cavities of which are destined to be
filled with phosphat of lime; it is the gradual acquisition of this salt
which gives to the bones their subsequent hardness and durability.
Infants first receive it from their mother's milk, and afterwards
derive it from all animal and from most vegetable food, especially
farinaceous substances, such as wheat floor, which contain it in
sensible quantities. A portion of the phosphat after the bones of the
infant have been sufficiently expanded and solidified, is deposited
in the teeth, which consist at first of only a gelatinous membrane or
case, fitted for the reception of this salt; and which, after acquiring
hardness within the gum, gradually protrude from it.” (p. 302). What
is more, such disease as rickets (rachitis) was already known to be
caused by deficiency of calcium phosphates: “Pray, Mrs. B. does not
the disease of the bones of children, called the rickets, proceed from
a deficiency of phosphat of lime?” and response: “… The other cause
of this disorder is an imperfect digestion and assimilation of the food,
attended with an excess of acid, which counteracts the formation of
phosphat of lime.” (p. 303). The next publication, I have been able to
find, devoted to the importance of calcium orthophosphates to bone
health was published in 1842 [123], followed by studies published
in 1895 [124], 1906 [125] and 1910 [126], while those on calcium
phosphates of bones were published by Aeby in 1872 [127] and
1873 [128, 129], followed by papers written by other researchers
[130, 131]. The presence of calcium orthophosphates in urine has
been known, since, at least, 1861 [132, 133], while the presence of
calcium orthophosphates in the auditory system of mammals has
been known since, at least, 1879 [134]. Papers on the importance
of calcium orthophosphates for lactation were published in 1914
[135], 1919 [136] and 1922 [137], while the fact that the optimum
Ca:P ratio in a diet is the same as that found in human bones or in
mother's milk has been known since, at least, 1930 [138].
Back on topic of bones, one should note that the differences
between the chemical compositions of bones belonged to young and
old individuals were investigated in the 19
th
century. Since I have
failed to extract the original references, let me cite a summary on
this topic, published in 1928 [139]: “In 1855 Frémy (4) concluded
that in humans there is, with increasing age, a relative increase of
CaCO
with respect to calcium phosphate. Von Recklinghausen (5) in
1858 concluded from his own analyses and from the work of Bibra
(1844), of Stark (1845), of Heintz (1849), and of Frémy, that there
3
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