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Lithium in mania
Author(s) -
Gershon Samuel
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1970112168
Subject(s) - lithium (medication) , potassium , chemistry , sodium , mineral , gout , mineralogy , medicine , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Lithium was discovered in 1818 by Arfwedson.6 Its chemie al individuality was the key to its discovery as the unaccOlmted for percentage composition of the newly found mineral petalite. Arfwedson demonstrated that the mysterious element resembled sodium and potassium in some reactions but not in others. Bunsen disclosed the presence of lithium in tobacco, sugar cane, and seaweed which belied the exclusive occurrence of this element in minerals. Its salts were later detected in the spa waters of England and Germany, and thus lithium was launched on its medical and therapeutic career. It was believed that the reputed efIects of these spas on rheumatoid arthritis and gout were due to the presence of lithium. The mineral waters contain about 1 mEq. per liter of lithium.