Vol. 60, 1909 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

EDITORIAL.
JamesBarrinalectureon J/^W5^...„,
Charlotte Medical Journal has advanced an original conception of
EDWARD
Publlstied Monthly.
C. REGISTER, M. D., EDITOR
this condition which is valuable from both
a pathologic and therapeutic standpoint.
()f course rheumatic endocarditis is the un-
r^HADinTTi? CHARLOTrt. IV IM. rC. derlying condition, but the actual evolution
^.^^ mitral stenosis probably depends upon
^7^7^^r7^^'^!^^^^:^^^^^!T:^^^^^rrr^^rrr an excess of calcium ions in the blood.
When these are present in excess the scler-
GAUGIUM SftUTS AND BODY METABO- ^^^^ changes which follow inflammatory
L''®'^processes
are apt to be carried to an extreme
A study of the therapeutic and physio- degree. Calcium salts also raise bloodlogic
action of the salts of calcium had led pressure, they increase the force of the carlo
some very important contributions to diac contractions, give rise to hypertrophy
our knowledge of the part plaved by this of the papillary muscles, cause violent colmetal
and its salts in the body economy. Hsion of the mitral cusps, increase the for-
Physiologv has taught us that it constitutes mation of fibroid tissues and gradually ceone
of the factors in the process of blood nient and unite the edges of the cusps tocoagulation,
a fact which has enabled us gether. This consideration conveys its
to treat hemorrhage and the hemorrhagic lesson for the treatment of the earliest
conditions rationally and successfully bv stages of mitral stenosis and also for the
the administration of calcium salts. In antecedent endocarditis before the valvular
pathology we learned that deposits of cal- disease has become established,
cium salts occur in the tissues under certain It >« obvious that a contracted mitral
circumstances. When a tubercular focus orifice offers a greater obstacle to the passbecomes
quiescent, calcification takes place age of the blood if the latter is thick, viscid,
therein. Muscles whose trophic nerve sup- and easily coagulable. Blood containing
ply has become diseased, as in infantile an excess of calcium ions is liable
paralysis, contain more than the average to get into this condition, and thus
amount of lime salts. A degenerated gan- add to the difficulty under which the
glioncellof the brain is liable to become circulation is laboring, fortunately there
transformed into a complete lime cast, •« a remedy at hand to counteract this--in
owing to calcium salts being precipitated citric acid. Administered three or four
uarondit. The calcification of arteries in times daily m doses of thirty grams, it
senility is a very familiar fact. washes the calcium salts out of the blood
An investigation into the physiology of and confers upon it a greater fluidity,
the female genital organs, bv Drs. Bell and These are but a few ol the many interest-
Hick, has led the somewhat startling con- ing considerations in regard to calcium and
elusions concerning the functions of cal- its salts. That it does play a most imporcium
in the body. They found that the tant part in the metabolism of the body is
normal regularity of menstruation depends evident. Lack of space precludes further
upon calcium metabolism in the tissues, elaboration. We would refer the reader.
The uterine glands excrete calcium and however, to recent issues of Fo/m I heramucin;
during menstruation local changes Pfi'ti^'"- i" which are found some very valoccur
in the uterine capillaries from which "able information along this line.
leucocytes and red cells escape. These escaping
leucocytes carry with them calcium
salts from the uterine glands and excrete
them. These conclusions have led to the
employment of calcium salts for quite a
new purpose. Thirty grains of calcium
gongbrning THB house „==.», ruv.
The House fly, Mnsca Domeslua, was
described by Carl von Linne in 1758. It
comes in the order Diplera (or two-winged
flies) and belongs to the idixaxXy Muscidae.
lactate every other day is found beneficial The tranformations are complete, there bein
amenorrhoea following acute or debili- ing four stages—the eggs, the leaves, the
tating diseases, the assumption being that puparium (containing the chrysalis) and
there is not enough calcium in the system the imago or perfect insect. The egg is
to permit of menstruation. When this white, elongate, cylindrical, a little smaller
function is established the calcium content and more pointed at the anterior end those
of the blood falls, but it soon rises again to the posterior. Its length is .()4-.0.S of an
a level suflncientlv high to stop the hemor- inch and about .01 inch in diameter. In
rhage. But if this rise in the calcium con- shape it is more or less like a slender grain
tent does not occur, then the hemorrhage of wheat and has a grove or on the side.
does not cease, but menorrhagia results. The eggs are usually deposited in masses
Therefore calcium salts are indicated in bv the female in the crevices of warm and
cases of two profuse menstruation. Sir moist horse-manure Heat and moisture