In 1907 Almerini noticed separately in the discoveries of Silvia and Colla, that the injections of gelatin increase the percentage of calcium in the circulating blood. He was convinced that as result of this action, the gelatin stimulated the regenerative activity in the bones. He observed an increase in the absorption of calcium and nitrogen after an oral administration of gelatin. In experiments with dogs the absorption was ranking between 21% and 3%. The increasing in the retention and absorption of calcium suggested the possibility of a conducting activity of calcium due to the presence of glycine in the gelatin because the pure glycine worked in a same way.

Eric Cohn from the Medical Policlinic from the University of Bonn, after some preliminary successes with gelatin in its jelly way, prepared a liquid gelatin (by an acid digestion) which he employed as a cure for many forms of Intestinal Catarrh. He details in his work, 58 cases divided in three groups according to their age a) children under 2 years old, b) from 2 to 14, c) adults. Cohn attributes the success of his treatment to the fact that the gelatin recovers the intestine mucous membranes, protecting them. He also reported favorable results in a case of hyperacidity and considered that its preparation could be valuable in the treatment of ulcers and other intestinal upsets. Considering the works of Cohn and Mann, Wood concluded:
There is considerable clinical evidence, that the oral administration of gelatin has a favorable influence in the treatment of internal hemorrhages. 

Hutchinson noticed that the gelatin has the advantage of fixing a good amount of acid during the process of digestion and due to this, it is useful in the treatment of hyper secretion of acid in the stomach and considers that the gelatin seems to be a peptogenical substance. It means those products that favor an abundant flow of gastric juices.

Recommended a soft diet that included gelatin in cases of the gastrointestinal mucous irritation as a result of ulcerations, inflammations and recent poisoning.

“Hydrophilic Colloidal Diet was the name of the work presented by Jr. in which gelatin assumes a very important roll and he said that the use of colloidal hydrophilics in the diet treatment of gastric upsets is frequent enough to rectify the upsets. It can be used almost with every diet considered appropriate. Its colloidal properties help to the digestion of many foods that produce discomfort in the patient and event those foods that the patients show sensibility.

Stone and Abeles administered gelatin during 304 months to patients with an advanced psendohypertrophic muscular dystrophy. Their clinical observations conducted them to conclude that the gelatin has some therapeutic potential that could be mayor in incipient cases.

Wood H.C. Pharmacology and Therapentics for students and Practitioners of medicine 2nd de- p-324-1916 J.B. Lippiniott Co. Philadelphia.

 
Mc Clendon JF- Advances in the Science of Nutrition 1937 Sasaki & Co. Sedan Japan.

Mitchell K. Food in Health and Disease 1937 FA Davis Co. Philadelphia.
Sharps L- Harb F. Kinderheilijunde-51-315-1933

Anderson A.F,R. – Am J. Digest & Nutr –4-1-1937

Oral Collagen for Rheumatoid Arthritis from the magazine Medical Sciences
Bulletin published by Pharmaceutical Information Associates LTD. December 1994
From the book Arthritis and Allied Conditions. A text book of rheumatology .
Mc. Caty and Daniel 9th De Lea Febleger U.S.A. 1979 pag. 656 to 661.