Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
in 1913 [149], while that on the necessity of normal calcium and
phosphorus metabolism was published in 1930 [150]. To conclude
this topic, one should mention on a huge review published in 1935
[151] and another one on bone composition published in 1937
[152] summarizing the available by that time knowledge on calcium
orthophosphates in living organisms.
8.6  Early Atempts to Treat Various Diseases by 
Calcium Orthophosphates
Concerning the attempts to treat various diseases by calcium
orthophosphates, the earliest publications, I have been able to find,
were in print as early as in 1851 [153, 154]. The author performed
a thorough study on the biomedical influence of phosphate of lime
that was “taken with the breakfast, dinner, and supper, in order to
have it mixed as well as possible with the food taken” on treatment
of various diseases. According to the author: “… the phosphate of
lime proved most beneficial in children who suffered from scrofula,
diarrhoea, ulcerations and excoriations of the skin and the bowels,
general waste of the cellular tissue, loss of power, &c. In these cases,
the mere use of six to ten grains per diem was often quite sufficient
to effect the cure, and I have met with such striking and satisfactory
results, as to leave no doubt that the want of the phosphate of lime
was the real cause of the symptoms alluded to.” [153, p. 434, left
column]. Furthermore, the author states: “As to other affections, in
which I have tried the phosphate of lime, I have to mention rickets,
caries, inflammations, and consecutive abundant suppurations of
the cellular tissue, and also fractures of the bones. In all these cases,
the administration proved most beneficial, and I would strongly
advocate its further experimental use. With respect to fractures
of the bones, I have to state in particular, that the consolidation of
the callus took place in a much shorter period than is generally the
case; however, too large doses of phosphate of lime must be shunned
in these cases, as I have observed an abundant callus, causing a
deformity of the bones, produced by the daily administration of
twenty-four grains of the phosphate for a fortnight.” [153, p. 434,
right column]. In the second paper, the same author mentioned an
interesting hypothesis that “phosphate of lime contained in a certain
quantity of blood” (thus, the presence of calcium orthophosphates in
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