234 INORGANIC AGENTS 



PREPARATIONS. 



Oleum Phosphoratum. Phosphorated Oil. (B. P.). 



Phosphorus, 1 gm. ; expressed oil of almond and ether, of each a 

 sufficient quantity to make 100 gm. (U. S. P.) 



Properties. — A clear, yellowish liquid, having the odor of phos- 

 phorus and ether. The ether in this preparation evaporates in time an(J 

 the strength is proportionately, and perhaps dangerously, increased. 



Dose. — H., 3 ii.-iii. (8.-12.); D., TTli.-v. (.06-.3). 



Pilulae Phosphori. (U. S. P.) 

 Each pill contains gr. 1/100 of phosphorus. 



Pilula Phosphori. (B. P.) 

 2 per cent, phosphorus. 

 Dose. — ^D., pills, i.-ii. 



ACTION OF PHOSPHORUS* 



Internal. — The sole physiological action of phosphorus 

 which would suggest, and in some manner explain, its 

 therapeutic use is that on bones. Phosphorus, when given 

 in small doses to growing animals, apparently stimulates ttie 

 bone-making cells (osteoblasts) and the growth of denser 

 hone, both from cartilage and periosteum. In older animals 

 the lamellae of spongy tissue are made thicker and, in fowl, 

 the marrow cavity may be wholly obliterated by the de- 

 position of hard bone through the ingestion of phosphorus. If 

 calcium salts be withheld from the food the activity of the 

 osteoblasts continues but the new bone is soft and of the nature 

 of bones in rickets. TDhe precise mode of action of phos- 

 phorus on normal and diseased bones (rickets and osteomal- 

 acia) has yet to be determined. 



There appears to be clinical evidence that phosphorus is 

 a nerve stimulant and, in man, it is said that large doses 

 cause mental exhilaration, increased capacity for work and 

 excite sexual desire. Experiments with phosphorus on ani- 

 mals show no special action of the drug on the nervous 

 system. Phosphorus is absorbed largely in an unchanged 

 condition in solution in fatty matter in the bowels and as 

 vapor. Some of the phosphorus is probably converted in the 

 bowels and blood into phosphureted hydrogen (PHg) and 

 further oxidized into phosphoric acid in the body. Its fate 



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