Within the past year, roentgenological evidence of healing of rickets coincident with a persistently low level of serum inorganic phosphorus has been observed in 2 children. These findings are of importance in relation to the theories of bone formation.The subjects of the study were 2 girls of 12 and 13 years of age, respectively, both of whom showed roentgenological, clinical and chemical evidence of active rickets. The serum calcium values of both children were within normal limits, the serum inorganic phosphorus markedly depressed. The children were given dietary treatment and kept under observation for a period of several months. During this time roentgenological evidence of marked healing of the bone was observed, but the serum inorganic phosphorus of each child remained essentially at the same low level.
METHODSBlood was drawn before breakfast and the serum separated from the clot as rapidly as possible. Calcium was determined by the method of Kramer and Tisdall (1), allowing the serum to stand 24 hours after the addition of the oxalate. The method of Fiske and Subbarow (2) was used for inorganic phosphorus: protein was determined by microKjeldahl (3). All possible precautions were taken in order to insure accuracy in the determinations.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONBlood and metabolic studies of the 2 children were made at intervals during a period of several months. The values obtained for serum 591