THE CHEMISTRY OF THE ANIMAL BODY. 957 



PHOSPHORUS, P =32. 



Phosphorus is found combined as phosphate in the soil ; it is necessary to 

 the development of plants. As phosphate it is present in large quantity in 

 the bones, and is found also in all the cells, tissues, and fluids of the body, 

 probably in loose chemical combination with the proteid molecule. It is pres- 

 ent in nuclein, protagon, and lecithin. 



Preparation. Phosphorus was first prepared by igniting evaporated urine, 

 3NaH 2 PO 4 + 5C = 3H 2 + 500 + 2P + Na 3 P0 4 . 



In a similar way it may be obtained by chemical treatment of bones. The vapors of 

 phosphorus may be condensed by passing them under water, where at a temperature of 

 44.4 it melts and may be cast into sticks. 



Properties. Phosphorus is a yellow, crystalline substance, soluble in oils and carbon 

 disulphide. It is insoluble in water, in which it is kept, since in moist air it gives off a 

 feeble glowing light, accompanied by white fumes of phosphorous acid (H 3 P0 3 ) and small 

 amounts of ammonium nitrate, peroxide of hydrogen, and ozone, to which latter the 

 peculiar odor is ascribed. Phosphorus ignites spontaneously at a temperature of 60, and 

 this may be produced by mere handling, the resulting burns being severe and dangerous. 

 This form of phosphorus is poisonous, but if it be heated to 250 in a neutral gas (nitrogen) 

 it is changed into red phosphorus, which has different properties and is not poisonous. 



Phosphorus-poisoning. On injecting phosphorus dissolved in oil into the 

 jugular vein, embolisms are produced by the oil in the capillaries of the lungs, 

 the expired air contains fumes of phosphorous acid, and the lungs glow when 

 cut out (Magendie). If the phosphorus oil be injected in the form of a fine 

 emulsion, embolism is avoided, 1 and the fine particles of phosphorus are generally 

 distributed throughout the circulation. On autopsy of a rabbit after such injec- 

 tion in the femoral vein, all the organs and blood-vessels glow on exposure to 

 the air. 2 If two portions of arterial blood be taken, and one of them be mixed 

 with phosphorus oil, and they be let stand, both portions become venous in the 

 same time. 3 Hence phosphorus in blood, as in water, is not readily oxidized. 

 Persons breathing vapor of phosphorus acquire phosphorus-poisoning. What 

 the direct action of phosphorus is, is unknown, but the results are most inter- 

 esting. To understand the results it must be made clear that proteid in decom- 

 posing in the body splits up into a nitrogeneous portion which finds its exit 

 through the urine and feces, and a non-nitrogenous portion which is resolved 

 into carbonic oxide and water, just as are the sugars and the fats. This car- 

 bonic acid is given off, for the most part, through the lungs. Now if a starv- 

 ing dog, which lives on his own flesh and fat, be poisoned with phosphorus, 

 the proteid decomposition as indicated by the nitrogen in the urine is largely 

 increased, while the amount of carbonic acid given off and oxygen absorbed 

 are largely decreased ; on post-mortem examination the organs are found to 

 contain excessive quantities of fat. We have here presumptive evidence that a 

 part of the proteid molecule usually completely oxidized has not been burned, 



1 L. Hermann: Pfluger>s Archiv, 1870, Bd. 3, p. 1. 



2 H. Meyer : Archiv filr exper. Pathologie und Pharmakologie, 1881, Bd. 14, p. 327. 



3 Meyer, Op. cit., p. 329. 



