PUBLISHED BY THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 

 OF THE COLLEGE OF PHARMACY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



LIBRAR 



NEW YCI 

 BOTANIC 



Vol. III. 



New York, September, i896. 



No. 9. 



THE PHARMACY OF PHOSPHORUS. 



By W. MARTINDALE, F. C. S. 



The salts of the oxygen compounds are oils and fats to dissolve it, but the exact 



mostly soluble, there is no difficulty in solubilities are difficult to ascertain. Be- 



dispensing them in aqueous solution, and ing insoluble in water, it is thrown out 



on the whole they are comparatively pal- of solution when added to this as a ve- 



atable, but the administration of phos- hide for administration, if the solvent be 



phorus in a free state, or in solution in a miscible with water. It is soluble also 



free state rather than chemically combin- in, or rather combines with several es- 



ed, presents pharmaceutical difficulties, sential oils, such as those of turpentine, 



as it is an acrid poison and causes gastric peppermint, neroli, bergamot, lavender, 



derangement with unpleasant eructations, rosemary, etc. It is also soluble in 



which render its agreeable administra- 

 tion in large doses hardly possible. 



Phosphorus does not melt below 111° 

 F., and unless it be administered in the 

 state of solution, or in very fine subdi- 

 vision by emulsion or otherwise, it is 

 doubtful whether it is completely assimi- 

 lated or produces all its therapeutic effect. 



melted resins, but not unchanged in 

 some. These essential oils, therefore, 

 and many resins would appear to be in- 

 compatible with phosphorus, either as 

 excipients or correctives. 



We have preparations of phosphorus in 

 the free condition in the British pharma- 

 copoeia, two formulae for phosphorated 



It would be preferable to administer it in oil and also two for phosphorus pill. The 



solution if the solvent were otherwise Unofficial Formulary of the Britsh Phar 



suitable. At the ordinary temperature maceutical Conference has a compound 



it requires about 320 volumes of absolute tincture and an elixir, and the United 



alcohol, 200 volumes of absokite ether, States Pharmacopoeia has an elixir, a 



50 volumes of chloroform, 100 of Dutch pill and a spirit or tincture. I mention 



liquid, and about 100 parts of most fixed also in the " Extra Pharmacopoeia" the 



