Useful calcium compounds include (i) calcium hydroxide, (ii) calcium oxide (or other calcium compositions that are converted readily to calcium hydroxide upon contact with body fluids); (iii) calcium alcoholates, in particular compositions having the formula Ca(OR)2 wherein R is an alkyl radical having from 1 to 6, preferably 1 to 3, carbon atoms; (iv) calcium salts of aliphatic monocarboxylic aci