PHOSPHORUS 397 



ether, 315 mils of benzene, and in 0.9 mil of carbon disulphide, 

 sparingly soluble in fixed oils. It is almost insoluble in water, to 

 which it imparts its disagreeable odor and taste. On long exposure 

 to air it takes fire spontaneously. 

 Preparations and Doses. 



Phosphorus. H. and C. gr, % — ^j ; 0.01 — 0.06. Dog, gr. 



yioo— ko ; 0.006— .003. 

 Pilules Phosphori, Yioo grain each. 

 ' * Oleum Phosphoratum, 1 per cent, phosphorated oil. This 



was formerly ofiicial but has been discarded on account of 



deterioration. It is best to prescribe phosphorus in an 



extemporaneous solution. 



Action. The chief effects from small or therapeutic doses were 

 demonstrated by Wegner, who found that if administered to growing 

 animals it rendered the bones more dense, diminished the cancellous 

 structure and in time tended to diminish or obliterate the marrow 

 cavity. That these changes are due to a stimulation of the bone- 

 forming tissues and not to a deposit of an excess of the calcium salts 

 was shown by the fact that in animals fed phosphorus, but deprived 

 of calcium, there was the same increased activity of bone-forming 

 cells, but no lime was deposited, so that the bone was soft and of a 

 rachitic appearance. 



With the exception of the changes produced in the bones and 

 possibly some effect upon the red blood corpuscles, the effect of phos- 

 phorus in medicinal doses is not marked. There is some clinical 

 evidence, however, that it stimulates or improves the tone of the ner- 

 vous system. 



Toxicology. The effects from phosphorus do not take place for 

 several hours and are first shown by intense abdominal pain (colic) 

 and profuse vomiting. The vomitus is luminous in the dark and 

 has a garlicy odor. Following these symptoms the patient usually 

 feels much better (after 24 to 36 hours) and will be apparently nor- 

 mal for 3 or 4 days. Then the symptoms recur. The patient is 

 icteric, liver congested and tender, pulse very quick and feeble, urine 

 scanty and contains bile, tube casts and albumen, increased amounts 

 of ammonia and sometimes sarcolactic acid, leucin, tyrosin and sugar. 

 This condition will last for several days or until the patient dies 

 from heart failure, although he may recover from serious attacks. 



Autopsy. The changes found upon autopsy are usually consid- 

 ered as due to changes in metabolism instead of to direct action. 

 Fatty degeneration is widespread, especially in the glands of the 

 stomach and intestines, in the liver, muscles and heart. Ecchymoses 

 are often present and necrotic areas are frequently found in the liver 

 and stomach. 

 * UnoflBcial. 



