ACTIOISr OF PHOSPHOEUS 235 



is unknown, but some phosphorus is eliminated as vapor from 

 the lungs and some in organic compounds in the urine. 



The toxic action of phosphorus differs decidedly from 

 its therapeutic effect and so does the action of pure phos- 

 phorus from its compounds. The action of phosphates, 

 phosphoric acid and hypophosphites is not at all that of 

 phosphorus. 



_ . Most of the hypophosphites are eliminated unchanged 

 in the urine and do not act as phosphates, as formerly be- 

 lieved. They appear to have little more influence than 

 sodium chloride, except the iron salt, where the metallic ion 

 acts as other iron compounds. Phosphoric acid stimulates 

 digestion and secretin formation, like other mineral acids, 

 but is inferior in this respect to hydrochloric acid. It has 

 been given internally for its supposed action as a phosphate, 

 but the organic phosphate compounds of the body cannot 

 be built from the inorganic salts. 



Calcium hypophosphate, lactophosphate and glycero- 

 phosphate act similarly to calcium phosphate (page 158). 



Toxicology. — The symptoms of poisoning do not ordi- 

 narily appear until some hours after ingestion of toxic doses. 

 Then abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting (in those animals 

 in which it is possible) and purging occur. The breath, 

 vomitus and fsecal discharges may be luminous, and have 

 the odor of phosphorus. There is fever, anorexia and thirst. 

 This condition is followed by an intermission in which the 

 patient appears to be recovering, only to be succeeded by 

 jaundice, hemorrhages (due to fatty degeneration of vessels 

 and blood poor in fibrinogen), nervous symptoms, as delir- 

 ium, coma and convulsions, and death. The urine rarely 

 becomes albuminous in animals, but contains leucin and 

 tyrosin. The heart muscle is directly paralyzed by lethal 

 doses. 



Grave, destructive metabolic changes (autolysis) occur 

 in the tissues — especially the liver. There is general fatty de- 

 generation of the viscera and muscles. The blood is disor- 

 ganized, and there are widespread ecchymoses. Jaundice 

 follows closure of the common, or hepatic duct, or smaller 

 biliary tubules (owing to proliferation of interstitial tissue, 

 seen also in the stomach and kidney), and disorganization 



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