Renal Calculi and Nephrocalcinosis Contributed to by Ingestion of Certain Substances: Environmental Calculosis

A group of patients develop renal calculi as a result of the ingestion of abnormally large amounts of the principal chemical substances contained in the stone, for example, silica or sulphonamides. Another group of patients form renal stones as a result of the toxic action on the renal epithelium of a substance (for example, phenacetin) which has been orally ingested, or taken into the body during the patient’s occupation; the stones are then probably dystrophic in origin.