CALCIUM STUDIES

Abstract

A decreased total serum calcium is a constant observation in parathyroprivic tetany, but there is considerable difference of opinion in the literature as to the distribution of the diffusible and nondiffusible fractions in this condition. The divergent results obtained may be explained in part by the fact that different experimental methods have been used by different investigators. For reasons which have been stated previously¹ it seems that, from a physiologic point of view, the consideration of the cerebrospinal fluid as the diffusible portion of the serum calcium is more satisfactory than the determination of diffusible calcium by ultrafiltration or dialysis. Cameron and Moorhouse² found that in parathyroidectomized dogs the total serum calcium was greatly diminished but that the spinal fluid calcium was little altered. They concluded that in parathyroprivic tetany the reduction is in the nondiffusible calcium. The same conclusion was reached by Cruickshank.³ On the other hand, Moritz⁴ and