308 



Scientific Proceedings (116). 



Only limited metabolic studies were possible because of the 

 patient's serious condition. Urinary and fecal calcium determina- 

 tions were done but are of no value as enemata were necessary 

 for constipation. On an ordinary low protein diet, with little 

 milk, the blood calcium was high, being 134 mgs. per 100 c.c. of 

 blood, fell to 1 1.9 mgs. after three days of a low calcium diet, and 

 rose to 12.7 mgs. on a high calcium diet for three days. 



The other blood analyses showed the usual findings of a severe 

 progressive, chronic nephritis with a marked lowering of the al- 

 kaline reserve. 



The patient died 1 1 months after the first tumor masses ap- 

 peared, and autopsy revealed a severe interstitial nephritis with 

 a right hydronephrosis, calcium deposits in the wall of the left 

 auricle, extensive and marked calcification of the smaller peri- 

 pheral arteries, the arteries of the gastro-epiploic omentum, and 

 the jejunum, but sparing the liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys and stom- 

 ach, an osteitis fibrosa particularly marked in the skull, ribs and 

 vertebrae, and two large parathyroid bodies, 2 cm. in diameter, 

 with some hyperplasia microscopically and a small adenoma in one. 



Hyperplasia of the parathyroids has been described in a few 

 cases of chronic nephritis but there appears to be no description 

 of such extensive calcium changes as this case presents, except in 

 metastatic calcification, and this man did not show the deposits 

 in the lungs, kidneys and stomach, usually found in the latter 

 condition. 



160 (1742) 



Studies on atmospheric requirements of bacteria. 

 1. Water vapor tension. 



By NICHOLAS KOPELOFF and STERNE MORSE. 



[From the Research Laboratories of the Psychiatric Institute, of 

 The New York State Hospitals, Ward's Island, N. Y.] 



Quantitative experiments on the relation between the growth 

 of bacteria and the amount of water present have been limited 

 to studies on the effect of water content of media, and are sur- 



