Frolmi the observations of Bergstrand (1) and others (2,3,4) it has become an established fact that some cases of chronic renal insufficiency are accompanied by enlargement of the parathyroid glands. The condition was well exemplified by a case recently studied at the Massachusetts General Hospital in which chronic glomerular nephritis had existed for more than twenty years, and in which necropsy revealed tremendous enlargement of all parathyroid glands (5).The question as to the cause of the parathyroid enlargement arises. It was suggested by Albright, Baird, Cope and Bloomberg (6) that the phosphate retention in chronic renal insufficiency might be the determining factor. When the blood phosphate level is raised by intravenous phosphate administration, hypocalcemia and tetany ensue (7). It seemed not unlikely that either hyperphosphatemia or the resulting hypocalcemia might be a stimulus to parathyroid hyperplasia. The present investigations were undertaken to determine the effect of administration of parenteral phosphate on the parathyroid glands of rabbits.
METHODThe animiial selected was the rabbit because the veins are easily accessible, and the inferior parathyroids are readily identifiable. These rabbits were fed the ordinary laboratory diet of oats, carrots, and hay. Most of the animals had been used from one to several weeks previously for the Friedmiian modification of the Aschheim-Zondek test (8), but several males and previously unused femiiales were included in the control and experimental groups.For injection, a buffered solution of sodium phosphate was prepared. The stock solution was made up as follows.
There are various reasons for considering the history of infant feeding in the latter half of the eighteenth century. During this period many changes took place in methods of feeding, which finally resulted in something approaching those of modern times. Books on pediatrics, which had previously been scarce and which had contained few details concerning modes of feeding, became more plentiful, and can even now be readily obtained by the private collector. These give detailed accounts of the methods of preparing and of the utensils used in feeding the many different mixtures. A representative collection of these feeding bottles can be obtained from European dealers at a small outlay.A knowledge of the infant mortality of the period is obtained from the following extract:In the year 1767 in consequence of the humane suggestions of Mr. Jonas Hanway, an act of parliament was passed, obliging the parish officers of London and Westminster to send their infant poor to be nursed in the country at proper distances from the town. Before this benevolent measure took place not more than one in 24 of the poor children received into the work houses lived to be a year old ; so that out of 2800, the average annual number admitted, 2690 died, whereas since this measure was adopted, only 450 out of the whole number die, and the greatest part of those deaths happen during the 3 weeks that the children are kept in the work-houses.1In London and its suburbs for the period from 1762 to 1771 there were 16,283 births per year; 10,145 children under 5 years of age died and 7,987 under 2 years, a mortality of 62 per cent under 5 years and of 49 per cent under 2 years.2 That other factors besides the methods of infant feeding had a share in this huge mortality may be gathered from the following therapeutic measures :Powder of earth worms is reckoned a specific for epilepsy. Rubbing of the gums with hare's brain will cure difficult breeding of teeth. Church bugs,
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