A note on the serum proteins in normal infants and children.

As a result of the work of Starling' the important part played by the serum proteins in the pathogenesis of oedema has secured recognition. More recently it has been demonstrated that decrease in serum protein is responsible for a reduction in the calcium content of the blood; the reason for this is that a portion of the calcium exists in combination with protein. In the literature numerous figures are available for the serum protein content of the blood in normal adults but not for children. With regard to values given for normal children, in most instances, the total protein level, as estimated by the refractometer, is all that is available. The object of this communication is to report the results obtained in twenty-four apparently normal children between two and eleven years and in twenty-two infants and young children under two years by the micro-Kjeldhal method of Howe' as modified by Hawk and Bergheim3.