Phosphate of Lime in its Relation to the Nutrition of Animals, and
the Mortality of Children.—Dr. Mourier addressed a memoir on this
subject to the French Academy of Sciences, in July last, in which he
states that the principal object of phosphate of lime in the system is
not, as is commonly supposed, the formation and nourishment of the
bones; but that its more special action is to produce and keep up vital
irritability, and that it is found in animals in a definite quality, but
varying according to their temperature, youth and vital activity. IIo
says that in cities especially, the foetus and infant seldom obtain the
quantity necessary for their developernent and existence; hence, this
is evidently one of the causes of the very great mortality of children,
especially in cities.—Archives Gener., Sept. 1852.