TOXICOLOGY 285 
MALE FERN. F. E. 
Toxic dose. 2% drams, F. E. 
Non-toxie dose. 1% drams, F. E. 
Experiments. (1) April 25, 1918, 11.15 a.m. Fowl received 
2% drams of fluid extract of male fern. 11.30 a.m. Fowl sleepy. 
Droopy. 11.45 a.m. Fowl sleepy. Sitting. 12 m. Legs very 
weak. 1vp.m. Very weak. Can raise itself on its feet with dif- 
ficulty. 2.45 p.m. Sitting. Has great difficulty in attempting to 
stand. 4 p.m. Standing but legs are still weak. April 26, 1918, 
9 a.m. Fowl has recovered. 
(2) July 8, 1918, 2 p.m. Fowl received 1%4 drams of fluid ex- 
tract of male fern. Result. No effect was apparent. 
PHOSPHORUS 
Poisoning with this substance may occur as a result of eating rat 
poison. The writers have observed a case of phosphorus poisoning 
induced by eating the debris left after a display of fireworks among 
which was fine gravel employed in “ torpedoes.” 
Birds exhibit depression, weakness, trembling, diarrhea, thirst 
and sometimes emphysema of the skin. Death may occur within a 
period varying from one hour to several days. 
At autopsy, care should be taken in opening the crop, proven- 
triculus and gizzard in looking for the so-called phosphorus vapor 
which appears as a transient cloud on opening the organs or when the 
contents are moved. The phosphorus in the crop and gizzard may 
be detected by the characteristic odor and by faint luminosity when 
in the dark, especially if the material is rubbed. The more pres- 
sure exerted, the more luminous it appears. The most marked le- 
sions occur in the proventriculus and are characterized by hem- 
orrhages and erosions in the mucosa. Inflammation is also present 
in the upper portions of the intestines. Ecchymoses may be pres- 
ent on the heart and in various organs. In cases of long standing 
there may be fatty degeneration of the liver and other organs, and 
yellow colored liver. 
