Calcium Content of Blood Serum. 



i i 



tends to markedly lower intragastric conductance as well as acidity. 

 Conductance, however, rises relative to free hydrochloric acid on 

 account of the higher salt content of these regurgitated secretions. 

 After the ingestion of mineral acid, neutralization is brought about 

 in the same manner as during digestion. 



In achylias where intragastric digestion was mainly pancreatic 

 in character, the conductance was found to parallel the concentra- 

 tion of pancreatic juice as measured by the tryptic index. 



113 (1291) 



The calcium content of the blood serum in certain pathological 



conditions. 



By John O. Halverson, Henry K. Mohler and Olaf 



Bergeim. 



[Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry of Jefferson Medical College, 



Philadelphia.] 



The calcium content of human blood serum was determined in 

 several normal cases and in a number of pathological conditions. 

 In the normal cases values lying between 9 and 11 mg. of calcium 

 per 100 c.c. were obtained. In nearly all of the pathological condi- 

 tions studied, including cases where the blood clotted with extreme 

 slowness, a similar range was observed, indicating a great con- 

 stancy of this element in the blood serum. Distinct decreases 

 were noted in cases of hematogenous jaundice, eclampsia, pneu- 

 monia, and particularly uremia. In several cases of uremia in- 

 creases in serum calcium were noted on improvement in the clinical 

 condition and following administration of calcium lactate. The 

 urinary calcium excretion in severe nephritis was found to be low 

 and calcium lactate administration brought about but slight 

 absolute increases. Where marked general edema occurred, with 

 or without nephritis, the excretion of calcium was unaffected 

 by increased ingestion. In a case of pernicious vomiting of preg- 

 nancy with severe acidosis, alkali administration decreased calcium 

 excretion to eight per cent, of its original value. 



It is pointed out that as the red corpuscles are nearly free 

 from calcium, determinations of this element in whole blood are of 



