424 Experiment with Phosphorus. 



much larger than the pieces of phosphorus which she had swal- 

 lowed ; two or three spots Avere sphacelated, near the pylorus ; 

 the mucous coat was also softened in its structure ; this coat was 

 higlily inflamed, and preternaturally softened throughout the 

 duodenum ; the same appearances extending the whole length 

 of the intestinal canal, which was nearly empty, with the ex- 

 ception of the rectum, which was distended with hardened faeces, 

 of which it does not appear that there had been any discharge 

 after the administration of the poison : not the least appearance 

 of phosphorus, in a solid state, could be detected in the stomach 

 or intestines, nor even in the faeces when exposed to a high tem- 

 perature ; the poison was most probably all dissolved in the 

 stomach, as the animal was not observed to vomit until the end of 

 the second day of the experiment, and then food only was ejected. 

 The heart and lungs were collapsed ; the brain and spinal mar- 

 row more than usually dry and pale ; several lumbrici were ob- 

 served in the stomach and intestines, all dead, though the animal 

 was still warm. From this experiment it results, that phosphorus, 

 though not an active poison, is fatal to these animals, when taken 

 into the stomach; that it excites violent inflammation in the 

 mucous membrane, and ulceration of such portions as the solid 

 phosphorus comes in contact with, occasionally attended with 

 sphacelus ; that the gastric liquor is capable of dissolving solid 

 phosphorus ; and that when it passes in a state of solution into 

 the intestines, it occasions inflammation and softening of the mu- 

 cous coat generally, contracting the bowels, and inducing con- 

 stipation ; and that the glandular, muscular, and osseous systems, 

 among those parts not immediately in contact, are principally 

 affected by the operation of this poison.* 



• The London Medical and Physical Journal, conducted by T. Brady, M. D. 

 R, Batty, M. D. and A. A. Noehdcn, M. D. Vol. I. page 85, has the following 



passage : — 



" From a letter from Citizen S. lately published in the ' ./Innales de Chimie' it 

 appears that no less than twenty-seven of his poultry, including a turkey hen, all 

 died in the course of a few days, in the most dreadful convulsions. Curiosity in- 

 duced him to open them, when every thinp appeared in a sound state, without any 

 indication of the slightest malady ; he perceived, however, that the internal mem- 

 brane of the gizzard was somewhat tough and shrivelled, like most animal sub- 

 stances, when exposed to the action of heat. In all the different subjects, the sto- 

 machs were luminous ; the grains, not fully digested, glittered on falling down to 

 the ground ; and those which at first sight presented no light, almost instantly ex- 



