220 INORGANIC AGENTS 



form of vapor, and Id solution with fatty matters obtained 

 in the digestive tract. It has everywhere a tendency to 

 unite with oxygen, both within and without the body. It is 

 probably converted in part in the intestines and blood 

 vessels into phosphoretted hydrogen, and becomes further 

 oxidized into phosphoric acid, so that after the ingestion of 

 phosphorus, phosphoretted hydrogen, phosphoric acid and 

 phosphorus may be found in the blood. Neither phosphoric 

 acid, the phosphates nor hypophosphites represent in any 

 sense the action of phosphorus. Phosphoric acid is said to 

 stimulate gastric digestion and resembles in action the 

 phosphates, to which, however, it is therapeutically inferior. 

 The hypophosphites are probably converted in the digestive 

 tract into phosphates. The phosphates generally differ 

 from phosphorus in not being so stimulant to the nervous 

 system, but serve as restoratives in supplying the constitu- 

 ents essential for the well-being of the various tissues. 

 Phosphate of iron is a constituent of the blood corpuscles, 

 sodium phosphate of blood plasma, potassium phosphate 

 of nerve tissue, magnesium phosphate of muscular tissue, 

 and calcium phosphate of bone. They tend to promote 

 growth and nutrition of these tissues. 



Toxicology. — The symptoms of poisoning do not ordin- 

 arily appear until some hours after ingestion of toxic doses. 

 Then abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting (in those animals 

 in which it is possible) and purging occur. The breath, 

 vomitus and faecal discharges may be luminous, and have 

 the odor of phosphorus. There is fever, anorexia and thirst. 

 This condition is followed by an intermission in which the 

 patient appears to be recovering, only to be succeeded by 

 jaundice, nervous symptoms, as delirium, coma and con- 

 vulsions, and death. The urine rarely becomes albuminous 

 in animals, but contains leucin and tyrosin. 



Phosphorus is largely eliminated in the urine as hypo- 

 phosphoric acid. There is general fatty degeneration of the 

 viscera and muscles. The blood is disorganized, and there 

 are widespread ecchymoses. Jaundice follows closure of 



