Sidney Ringer

 

 

 

 Sydney Ringer 

  

  Born in Norfolk, England (1834).

 Studied medicine at University College London (UCL), graduating in 1857.

 

 

 

                                                           History Of Ringers Solution

 

 Ringer was the first to prove that calcium ions are vital for myocardial contractility.

 

 While experimenting on isolated frog hearts in the 1880s, Ringer initially used tap water from London.

When he switched to distilled water, the hearts stopped beating → he realized that something in tap water was essential for cardiac contraction.

He identified this as salts, particularly calcium ions, but also sodium and potassium.

 In 1882–1885, he published studies showing that a precise mixture of salts was required for a heart to keep beating outside the body.This became known as Ringer’s Solution (NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂ in water).

Ringer was the first to prove that calcium ions are vital for myocardial contractility.

His work is considered one of the foundations of cardiac physiology and influenced later developments in intravenous fluids, organ perfusion, and pharmacology.

 

 

 

 

Sidney Ringer To Ringers Lactate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Mid-20th century – ECG studies established hypocalcemia → prolonged QT → arrhythmia → arrest.

 

 

1970s onward – Hypocalcemia formally included as a reversible cause of cardiac arrest in resuscitation 

 

 

 

 

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