Molecules: You'd better learn to live with them.
125 years ago, a physiologist named Sidney Ringer discovered that a solution of saline prepared by his assistant seemed to keep excised rat hearts beating longer than normal saline.
It turns out this is because the assistant was a lazy slob and used London tap water instead of distilled. Good thing, too - the water, being hard, had a substantial amount of Ca2+, which we now appreciate is important in muscle function.
A derivative of the solution (invented only 50 years later) still lives on, Ringer's Lactate.
Medicine & Health
Physical Science
Comments
So why isn't it called [Assistant's Name]'s Solution?
Posted by: The Ridger | February 2, 2008 11:14 AM
I didn't know this and it's so amusing. I was searching for some info on Ringer's solution for my practical exams coming up. Great blog!
Posted by: Anne Blythe | February 2, 2008 1:07 PM
They would always mention this substance in the TV show Emergency! back in the '70's - good to know what iit is....
Posted by: joeylawn | February 6, 2008 10:49 PM
My cat gets lactated Ringers twice a week. I got that it contained lactate but never understood what was meant by Ringers. Now I know.
Posted by: zy | February 15, 2008 5:43 AM