On the Modus Operandi of Phosphorus, fyc. 491 



practitioners fearful of its employment; when, if that action be 

 fully comprehended, it will probably be found to be one of the 

 most powerful and most prompt of all our stimulating remedies. 



Without supposing the ideas I shall ad\-ance upon this subject 

 are entirely correct, or even absolutely novel; I nevertheless 

 consider them deserving of attention ; since, if properly matured 

 by the experience of others, they will unquestionably present to 

 the hand of the physician, one of the most energetic remedies 

 that has ever been employed. 



1 commence my remarks, by denying in toto, the poisonous 

 properties that have been ascribed to phosphorus, by every wri- 

 ter on the subject, whether given on his own, or the authority 

 of others. It is probably sufficiently known, that it has been 

 chiefly administered as a powerful stimulant or tonic, by those 

 physicians who have employed it, in certain chronic diseases ; 

 epilepsy, palsy, chorea, &c. and in various adynamic and ataxic 

 fevers. The danger of its administration has been properly 

 dwelt upon ; and various supposed improved formulee have been 

 proposed, for its safer internal use ; and yet, none of these circum- 

 stances appear to have led to a proper appreciation of its modus 

 operandi, or of what is demanded, to render it safe and efficacious. 



Not intending this as a medical communication, in its strict 

 and proper acceptation, I shall say nothing of the diseases in 

 which it has been recommended and employed : nor shall I med- 

 dle with its chemical history, further than is requisite to render 

 intelligible and probable, that theory of its operation, which, to 

 me, appears the only one capable of being sustained, both by ar- 

 gument and fact. 



It is well known that phosphorus is considered as a simple 

 body. To us, it is so, since it has never been decomposed. If 

 this is so far correct, we have the analogy of almost every other 

 so called simple body, of its being, like them, inactive and inope- 

 rative ; until, by the chemical affinities existing between it and 

 other agents, a change ensues in its character, which gives it a 

 dangerous and destructive power, that it was not previously pos- 

 sessed of. 



The co-operation of two other agents is essentially requisite 

 to produce this change ; neither, singly, is sufficient ; nor even 

 both united, unless favoured by existing circumstances. These 

 agents are caloric and oxygen. Caloric alone, will fuse or melt 



Vol. I.— 63 



