Sidney Ringer (1835-1910): science and serendipity in Victorian London.
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Published:
Jun 22, 2021
Keywords:
Calcium, ringer, serendipity, history of medicine
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Abstract
The transcendental role of calcium in myocardial function was recognized one hundred and forty years ago by the British physician and physiologist Sidney Ringer (1835-1910), who is remembered by most members of the health team for being the originator of the eponymous solution, the discovery of which had very unique characteristics. However, there are other less obvious aspects of his working life as well as his biography, worth considering.
Dr. Ringer lived in Victorian London, a time of major change, standing out as a pioneer in pharmacology. The role of serendipity in his scientific investigation allowed him to make the most of the opportunity he had been afforded and in turn enabled us to learn about his remarkable traits of thoroughness, persistence, and insight.
This article briefly reviews Ringer's career and explores the intellectual and scientific context in which his important contributions were made.
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1.
Arriagada D. Sidney Ringer (1835-1910): science and serendipity in Victorian London. Rev Arg de Ter Int. [Internet]. 2021 Jun. 22 [cited 2024 Dec. 30];38. Available from: https://revista.sati.org.ar/index.php/MI/article/view/777
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References
Bibliografía
1. Semler MW, Self WH, Wanderer JP, Ehrenfeld JM, Wang L, Byrne DW, et al. Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med. 2018; 378(9):829-39.
2. Emrath ET, Fortenberry JD, Travers C, McCracken CE, Hebbar KB. Resuscitation With Balanced Fluids Is Associated With Improved Survival in Pediatric Severe Sepsis. Crit Care Med. 2017;45(7):1177-83.
3. Krajewski ML, Raghunathan K, Paluszkiewicz SM, Schermer CR, Shaw AD. Meta-analysis of high- versus low-chloride content in perioperative and critical care fluid resuscitation. Br J Surg. 2015;102(1):24-36.
4. Weiss SL, Peters MJ, Alhazzani W, Agus MSD, Flori HR, Inwald DP. Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock and Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020;21(2):e52-e106.
5. Obituary. Sydney Ringer, MD. Br Med J. 1910;2:1384.
6. Miller DA. Solution for the heart: The life of Sydney Ringer. London, London Physiological Society, 2007
7. Sydney Ringer (1835-1910). Clinician and pharmacologist. JAMA. 1968 ;206(11):2515-6
8. Ringer S. A further contribution regarding the influence of the different constituents of the blood on the contraction of the heart. J Physiol 1883 ;4 :29-42.
9. Zimmer HG. Sydney Ringer, serendipity, and hard work. Clin Cardiol. 2005;28(1):55-6.
10. Ringer S. Concerning the influence exerted by each of the constituents of the blood in the contraction of the ventricle. Journal of Physiol (London) 1880/82; 3:389-93.
11. Dale H. Accident and opportunism in medical research. Br Med J 1948; 11:451-5.
12. Miller DJ. Sydney Ringer; physiological saline, calcium and the contraction of the heart. J Physiol. 2004;555(Pt 3):585-7.
13. Ringer S. Regarding the Action of Hydrate of Soda, Hydrate of Ammonia, and Hydrate of Potash on the Ventricle of the Frog's Heart. J Physiol. 1882; 3(3-4):195-202.6
14. Hartmann AF, Senn MJ. Studies in the metabolism of sodium r-lactate. III. Response of human subjects with liver damage, disturbed water and mineral balance, and renal insufficiency to the intravenous injection of sodium r-lactate. J Clin Invest 1932;11(2):345-55.
15. The Physiological Society Magazine. Traces of the past. Sydney Ringer. En https://static.physoc.org/app/uploads/2019/03/22195007/29-a.pdf. Accedido el día 21 de febrero 2021.
16. Ringer S. On the connection between the heat of the body and the excreted amounts of urea, chloride of sodium, and urinary water during a fit of ague. Med Chir Soc Trans 1859; 42: 361.
17. Fye WB. Sydney Ringer, calcium, and cardiac function. Circulation. 1984;69(4):849-53.
18. Ringer S, Murrell W. On the effects of sulphate of atropia the on of frogs. J Physiol nervous system Anat 1877; 11: 321.
19. Ringer S, Murrell W. Concerning the action of chloride of potassium on the nervous system of frogs. J Anat Physiol 1878;12: 54.
20. Ringer S, Buxton DW. Concerning the Action of small quantities of Calcium, Sodium, and Potassium Salts upon the Vitality and Function of Contractile Tissue and the Cuticular Cells of Fishes. Journal of Physiology (London).1885;6:154-61.
21. Ringer S. Concerning the Influence of Saline Media on Fish, etc. J Physiol. 1884;5(2):98-115.
22. Chapman R.A. (1988) The Effect of Lime and Potash on the Frog Heart: An Imaginative Reconstruction of a Paper Presented by Sydney Ringer to the Physiological Society on 9th December 1882. In: Morad M., Nayler W.G., Kazda S., Schramm M. (eds) The Calcium Channel: Structure, Function and Implications. Bayer AG Centenary Symposium. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
23. Chapman R.A. (1988) The Effect of Lime and Potash on the Frog Heart: An Imaginative Reconstruction of a Paper Presented by Sydney Ringer to the Physiological Society on 9th December 1882. In: Morad M., Nayler W.G., Kazda S., Schramm M. (eds) The Calcium Channel: Structure, Function and Implications. Bayer AG Centenary Symposium. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
24. Lee JA. Sydney Ringer (1834-1910) and Alexis Hartmann (1898-1964). Anaesthesia 1981;36:1115-21
25. Biswas S, McNerney P. (2016). Sydney Ringer: The pipe water of New River Water Company and the discovery of the elixir of life.
1. Semler MW, Self WH, Wanderer JP, Ehrenfeld JM, Wang L, Byrne DW, et al. Balanced Crystalloids versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults. N Engl J Med. 2018; 378(9):829-39.
2. Emrath ET, Fortenberry JD, Travers C, McCracken CE, Hebbar KB. Resuscitation With Balanced Fluids Is Associated With Improved Survival in Pediatric Severe Sepsis. Crit Care Med. 2017;45(7):1177-83.
3. Krajewski ML, Raghunathan K, Paluszkiewicz SM, Schermer CR, Shaw AD. Meta-analysis of high- versus low-chloride content in perioperative and critical care fluid resuscitation. Br J Surg. 2015;102(1):24-36.
4. Weiss SL, Peters MJ, Alhazzani W, Agus MSD, Flori HR, Inwald DP. Surviving Sepsis Campaign International Guidelines for the Management of Septic Shock and Sepsis-Associated Organ Dysfunction in Children. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2020;21(2):e52-e106.
5. Obituary. Sydney Ringer, MD. Br Med J. 1910;2:1384.
6. Miller DA. Solution for the heart: The life of Sydney Ringer. London, London Physiological Society, 2007
7. Sydney Ringer (1835-1910). Clinician and pharmacologist. JAMA. 1968 ;206(11):2515-6
8. Ringer S. A further contribution regarding the influence of the different constituents of the blood on the contraction of the heart. J Physiol 1883 ;4 :29-42.
9. Zimmer HG. Sydney Ringer, serendipity, and hard work. Clin Cardiol. 2005;28(1):55-6.
10. Ringer S. Concerning the influence exerted by each of the constituents of the blood in the contraction of the ventricle. Journal of Physiol (London) 1880/82; 3:389-93.
11. Dale H. Accident and opportunism in medical research. Br Med J 1948; 11:451-5.
12. Miller DJ. Sydney Ringer; physiological saline, calcium and the contraction of the heart. J Physiol. 2004;555(Pt 3):585-7.
13. Ringer S. Regarding the Action of Hydrate of Soda, Hydrate of Ammonia, and Hydrate of Potash on the Ventricle of the Frog's Heart. J Physiol. 1882; 3(3-4):195-202.6
14. Hartmann AF, Senn MJ. Studies in the metabolism of sodium r-lactate. III. Response of human subjects with liver damage, disturbed water and mineral balance, and renal insufficiency to the intravenous injection of sodium r-lactate. J Clin Invest 1932;11(2):345-55.
15. The Physiological Society Magazine. Traces of the past. Sydney Ringer. En https://static.physoc.org/app/uploads/2019/03/22195007/29-a.pdf. Accedido el día 21 de febrero 2021.
16. Ringer S. On the connection between the heat of the body and the excreted amounts of urea, chloride of sodium, and urinary water during a fit of ague. Med Chir Soc Trans 1859; 42: 361.
17. Fye WB. Sydney Ringer, calcium, and cardiac function. Circulation. 1984;69(4):849-53.
18. Ringer S, Murrell W. On the effects of sulphate of atropia the on of frogs. J Physiol nervous system Anat 1877; 11: 321.
19. Ringer S, Murrell W. Concerning the action of chloride of potassium on the nervous system of frogs. J Anat Physiol 1878;12: 54.
20. Ringer S, Buxton DW. Concerning the Action of small quantities of Calcium, Sodium, and Potassium Salts upon the Vitality and Function of Contractile Tissue and the Cuticular Cells of Fishes. Journal of Physiology (London).1885;6:154-61.
21. Ringer S. Concerning the Influence of Saline Media on Fish, etc. J Physiol. 1884;5(2):98-115.
22. Chapman R.A. (1988) The Effect of Lime and Potash on the Frog Heart: An Imaginative Reconstruction of a Paper Presented by Sydney Ringer to the Physiological Society on 9th December 1882. In: Morad M., Nayler W.G., Kazda S., Schramm M. (eds) The Calcium Channel: Structure, Function and Implications. Bayer AG Centenary Symposium. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
23. Chapman R.A. (1988) The Effect of Lime and Potash on the Frog Heart: An Imaginative Reconstruction of a Paper Presented by Sydney Ringer to the Physiological Society on 9th December 1882. In: Morad M., Nayler W.G., Kazda S., Schramm M. (eds) The Calcium Channel: Structure, Function and Implications. Bayer AG Centenary Symposium. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
24. Lee JA. Sydney Ringer (1834-1910) and Alexis Hartmann (1898-1964). Anaesthesia 1981;36:1115-21
25. Biswas S, McNerney P. (2016). Sydney Ringer: The pipe water of New River Water Company and the discovery of the elixir of life.