Stones in the urinary tract have plagued mankind for at least six or seven thousand years. There is a recorded case of a urinary tract stone found in a mummy in Egypt dating back to 4800 B.C. This stone was analyzed and was found to have a core of uric acid, and was covered with layers of calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and magnesium ammonium phosphate.
There have been great strides made in the medical management of stone disease. We now know that in patients who form stones, the environment of the urinary tract sets up conditions which allow salts and minerals to crystallize out of solution. In other words, there is too much mineral content in the urine and too little inhibitor substance in the urine. Add to this the fact that most people are slightly dehydrated in Florida because of the heat and humidity, causing the urine to be concentrated most of the time, and you have a great set-up for kidney stone formation.
There would be no reason to look for a cause of stone disease unless we had treatments to offer. Today, we have specific medical therapy for the various types of stone disease. Treatment prevents new stone formation and reduces the need for repeated surgical procedures.
Kidney stones: How they form Kidney stones: Diagnostic evaluation
