306 LECITHIN 



the less active phosphoric acid, administering mucilaginous 

 fluids, but avoiding milk, oils, and eggs, which dissolve the 

 poison, and prescribing frequently repeated doses of old 

 turpentine and of copper sulphate. Turpentine forms with 

 it the non-poisonous terebinthino-phosphoric acid, a non- 

 poisonous solid body. Copper sulphate unites with it to 

 form copper phosphide which is insoluble, whilst some of the 

 metal is precipitated on the particles of phosphorus, so 

 hindering absorption. 



MEDICINAL USES. Small doses promote tissue growth, 

 and replace spongy texture of bones with denser tissue. 

 Phosphorus is prescribed in rickets, bone softening, after 

 fractures, and in chronic malnutrition. It has been sub- 

 stituted for arsenic in persistent skin disorders. It is 

 empirically administered in epilepsy, chorea, and general 

 paralysis, and in such cases it is sometimes applied as a 

 topical irritant. 



DOSES, etc. Horses and cattle take gr. ss. to grs. hi. ; sheep 

 and pigs, gr. ^ to gr. ^ ; dogs, gr. ^ to g r - eV* g iven 

 in pill or electuary, or dissolved in almond oil or vaseline. 

 Phosphorus may be prescribed in the form of elixir phosphor!, 

 made with compound tincture of phosphorus and glycerin, 

 and containing gr. -^ in each drachm. The minimum dose 

 should be administered daily for a week, then suspended for 

 a week, and repeated if required. For external purposes a 

 liniment is made with one part phosphorus to one hundred 

 parts olive or almond oil. The paste for the destruction of 

 rats usually consists of one part phosphorus to sixty each of 

 water and flour. 



Lecithin, a natural phosphoglyceride, containing phos- 

 phorus in organic combination, is found in yolk of egg, the 

 brain, liver, suprarenal gland, milk, beans, peas, etc. 

 Lecithin obtained from yolk of egg is a brownish-yellow 

 resin-like mass, with a characteristic odour ; insoluble in 

 water, soluble in alcohol, ether, and chloroform. It is 

 readily and completely assimilated by the tissues, stimulat- 

 ing cell-multiplication, improving appetite, increasing weight 

 and promoting growth in young animals. Its administra- 

 tion is indicated in all derangements due to lack of organic 

 phosphorus. It is recommended in the treatment of 



