Calcium is the mainstay of treatment but, used alone, it only slows the rate of bone resorption.

One way of improving its effect is to combine calcium with fluoride in large doses and this treatment seems to lead to active bone replacement.

The calcium and fluoride can be given by mouth and injections are not necessary.

One way of determining the extent of the thinning and also of measuring the response to treatment, is to X-ray the head of the femur and to note the crossing lines of bone known as trabeculae. These decrease in number as the bone thins.

The degree of osteoporosis can be measured by taking X-rays of the bones.

Osteomalacia is a similar disorder of bone, where the protein matrix is laid down as normal but there is a reduction in the deposition of calcium salts.

This leads to softening of the bone, so that it may bend and show deformities.

Osteomalacia is the adult form of rickets.

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Colds and, indeed, most respiratory infections are highly contagious, spreading easily from person to person.

The incubation period is short, from one to three days. The symptoms are so well known as hardly to need describing, but for those few readers who are fortunate enough to escape colds I will outline the most important ones:

A slight fever, mild headache and aches and pains are associated with a blocked or runny nose.

The throat becomes thick or ’scratchy’.

Initially the discharge from the nose is clear, but then becomes thickened with pus due to a secondary bacterial infection.

The infection may spread to the sinuses or to the middle-ear.

It may spread down to the lower respiratory tract and involve the trachea or windpipe and the bronchial tubes.

Despite the marvels of modern medicine, the only effective treatment for a cold is the same advice your grandmother may offer.

Go to bed for a day or two, keep warm, have a hot lemon drink and a couple of aspirin or paracetamol. Whisky or rum is an optional extra, and although I don’t believe in alcohol’s medicinal benefit, it might make you feel better in your misery.

A cough suppressant is helpful at night if coughing keeps you or others awake.

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