ACTION OF PHOSPHORUS 221 



the common, or hepatic duct, or smaller biliary tubules, and 

 disorganization of the blood. There is rapid atrophy of 

 the liver, and phosphorus poisoning in man is often indis- 

 tinguishable during life from acute yellow atrophy of the 

 liver. Chronic poisoning, attended with necrosis of the jaw 

 and other symptoms, and occurring among workers in phos- 

 phorus, is unlikely to occur in the lower animals. Acute 

 poisoning is treated by emptying the stomach with a stomach 

 tube or copper sulphate ; the latter forming an insoluble 

 phosphide of copper. Cathartics should also be administered. 

 Permanganate of potash or hydrogen dioxide should be em- 

 ployed as antidotes, for their oxidizing action. Old turpen- 

 tine is usually recommended as the antidote, but only the 

 French variety is of any value, and that is generally unob- 

 tainable. Demulcents and opium are in order after evacuant 

 and antidotal treatment has been carried out, but oil should 

 never be given in phosphorus poisoning, as it assists the 

 solution and absorption of the poison. 



Uses. — Phosphorus is indicated as a stimulant to the 

 growth of bone in rhacitis and osteomalacia, as a nerve 

 stimulant and tonic in conditions of nervous exhaustion and 

 impaired vitality, due to excessive activity of the sexual 

 organs or otherwise. It is used empirically in treatment 

 of boils, acne, and psoriasis, and has been prescribed 

 with alleged advantage as a general stimulant in pneu-' 

 monia. 



Administration. — Phosphorus may be given in pill or 

 ball, with cacao butter, or in the official preparations to 

 dogs, and in the saturated alcoholic solutions to horses. 

 Phosphide of zinc represents the action of phosphorus, 

 and yields phosphoretted hydrogen in its decomposition in 

 the body. It may be given to dogs (gr.^V) ^^ ^li® form of 

 pills. 



