PHOSPHORUS. 95 



elementary state are phosphorated oil (oleum phosphoratum), and 

 pills of phosphorus (piluke phosphori). 



Phosphorus is also used for making phosphoric acid and other 

 compounds. 



Poisonous properties of phosphorus, and antidotes. Common 

 phosphorus is extremely poisonous, two kinds of phosphorus- 

 poisoning being distinguished. They are the acute form, con- 

 sequent upon the ingestion of a poisonous dose, and the chronic 

 form affecting the workmen employed in the manufacture of 

 phosphorus or of lucifer matches. 



There is no antidote to phosphorus which acts chemically. 

 Oil of turpentine has been used successfully, though its action 

 has not been sufficiently explained. Efforts should be made to 

 eliminate the poison as rapidly as possible by means of a 

 stomach-pump, emetics, or cathartics. Oil or fatty matter (milk) 

 must not be given, as they act as solvents of the phosphorus, 

 causing its more ready assimilation. 



Detection of phosphorus in cases of poisoning. Use is made in 

 detecting phosphorus (when in the elementary state) of its 

 luminous properties. Organic matter (contents of stomach, 

 food, etc.) containing phosphorus will often show this luminosity 

 when agitated in the dark. If this process fails, in consequence 

 of too small a quantity of the poison, a portion of the matter to 

 be examined is rendered fluid by the addition of water, slightly 

 acidulated with sulphuric acid, and placed in a flask, which is 

 connected with a bent glass-tube leading to a Liebig's condenser. 

 The apparatus is placed in the dark, and the flask is heated. If 

 phosphorus be present, a luminous ring will be seen where the 

 glass tube, leading from the flask, enters the condenser. The 

 heat should be gradually raised to the boiling-point, the liquid 

 kept boiling for some time, and the products of distillation col- 

 lected in a glass vessel. Phosphorus volatilizes with the steam, 

 and small globules of it may be found in the collected fluid. If, 

 however, the quantity of phosphorus in the examined matter 

 was very small, it may all have become oxidized during the 

 distillation, and the fluid will then contain phosphorous acid, 

 the tests for which will be stated below. 



It should be mentioned that the luminosity of phosphorus 



