236 INORGANIC AGENTS 



of the blood. There is rapid atrophy of the liver, and 

 phosphorus poisoning in man is often indistinguishable dur- 

 ing life from acute yellow atrophy of the liver. Nitrogenous 

 elimination is increased. Imperfectly decomposed products 

 of metabolism, as leucin and tyrosin, occur in the urine; 

 also an excess of urea and ammonia and often blood, bile 

 and fat and sarcolactic acid. It is a matter of dispute 

 whether the fat deposited in the cells of the tissues is formed 

 there (fatty degeneration), or is conveyed thence from that 

 already existing in the subcutaneous tissue. Chronic poison- 

 ing, attended with necrosis of the jaw and other symptoms, 

 and occurring among workers in phosphorus, is unlikely to 

 occur in the lower animals. Acute poisoning is treated by 

 emptying the stomach with a stomach tube or copper sul- 

 phate; the latter forming an insoluble phosphide of copper. 

 Cathartics should also be administered. Permanganate of 

 potash or hydrogen dioxide should be employed as anti- 

 dotes, for their oxidizing action. Old turpentine is usually 

 recommended as the antidote, but only the French variety 

 is of any value, and that is generally unobtainable. Demul- 

 cents and opium are in order after evacuant and antidotal 

 treatment has been carried out, but oil should never be 

 given in phosphorus poisoning, as it assists the solution and 

 absorption of the poison. 



Uses. — Phosphorus is indicated as a stimulant to the 

 growth of bone in rachitis and osteomalacia, as a nerve 

 stimulant and tonic in conditions of nervous exhaustion and 

 impaired vitality, due to excessive activity of the sexual 

 organs or otherwise. It is used empirically in treatment 

 of boils, acne, and psoriasis, and has been prescribed 

 with alleged advantage as a general stimulant in pneu- 

 monia. 



Administration. — Phosphorus may be given in pill or 

 ball, with cacao butter, or in the ofScial preparations to 

 dogs, and in a saturated alcoholic solution to horses. 

 Phosphide of zinc represents the action of phosphorus, 

 and yields phosphureted hydrogen in its decomposition in 

 the body. It may be given to dogs (gr.1-10) in the form of 

 pills. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



