Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
blood was already known in 1851) might be partly “originated from
the wear and tear of the bones and the muscular tissue”. Let me
cite: “Supposing now the wear and tear of bones to be abnormally
increased, an abnormal quantity of phosphates will consequently re-
enter into the composition of the blood, and by analysing the latter
we shall find an increased quantity of phosphates in it. The general
waste of bones is therefore leading to an increase of the phosphates
in the blood, and nothing really would be more erroneous, than
to suppose the general quantity of phosphates in the system to be
increased, whenever we find their quantity increased in the blood.”
[154, p. 668, right column]. The readers are strongly advised to
get through the both papers to rediscover the medical ideas and
approaches published 160 years ago!
The next available medical study involving phosphate of lime
was published in 1874 [155]. An interesting idea to cure cancer
“by embedding a piece of bone material or calcium phosphate in a
cancer and exposing it to a pencil of X rays …” to create a secondary
radiation in calcium orthophosphates (either natural or implanted
ones) was announced in 1913 [156]. Strange enough, but seeking
in the scientific databases on farther development of this idea
has resulted in the zero publications (researchers introduced
radioactive isotopes of other chemical elements instead [157-160]).
Nevertheless, this might be a worth reinvestigating approach.
To conclude this topic, the earliest paper, I have been able to find,
on addition of calcium orthophosphates to forage of animals was
published in 1953 [161].
8.7 Artificial Grats in the 19
th
Century and
Before
The artificial generation of tissues, organs or even more complex
living organisms was throughout the history of mankind a matter of
myth and dream. Unfortunately, due to the practice of cremation in
many societies, little is known about the prehistoric materials used
to replace bones lost to accident or disease. Nevertheless, according
to the available literature, introduction of non-biological materials
into the human body was noted far back in prehistory. For example,
the remains of a human found near Kennewick, Washington, USA
(often referred to as the “Kennewick Man”) was dated to be up to
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