On the Modus Operandi of Phosphorus^ ^c. 493 



of the acid formed ? No poison, however, exists : every symp- 

 tom, and the circumstances of the death ensuing, together with 

 the post mortem appearances, all more obviously indicate the re- 

 sult of fire, than of any substance to which the appellation of 

 poison can be strictly given. 



If, then, when given as a medicine, how does it act ? Un- 

 questionably in a similar manner, although inferior in degree. 

 The amount is small ; the division of the phosphorus itself so 

 minute, that it may, by its diffusion over the whole interior of 

 the stomach, instead of being concentrated in one spot, be con- 

 ceived of, as acting the part of a mild but extensive rubifacient, 

 and thereby promoting that beneficial influence, that we might 

 reasonably anticipate, from an appropriate and judicious admin- 

 istration. That it has occasionally proved fatal, even in small 

 doses, cannot be denied : but without a full knowledge of exist- 

 ing circumstances, we must be unable to afford an explanation 

 of the fact. If in a solid form, although small in amount, it 

 might have ignited, and have produced all the effects resulting 

 from a burn. Gastritis, and its results, increased by the acid 

 formed, would probably be excited; whilst the more obvious 

 effects of fire could only be appreciated, by a larger amount. 



Let us advert now, to the case recorded by Dr. Harlan. 

 Eleven grains were given to a cat at 10 A. M. of Tuesday, 

 which seem to have caused but trifling uneasiness for several 

 hours : nor did death ensue until Friday at one o'clock, or more 

 than three days after its administration. The mucous coat of 

 the stofnach was generally inflamed, particularly about the great 

 curvature, and pyloric portion, w^hich displayed numerous holes, 

 or abrasions, some of them much larger than the pieces of phos- 

 phorus swallowed. Two or three spots were sphacelated, the 

 mucous coat near the pylorus softened in its structure, and this 

 coat was also highly inflamed, and preternaturally softened 

 throughout the duodenum ; the same appearances extended the 

 whole length of the intestinal canal. No remains of the phos- 

 phorus were found, the doctor supposing it to have been dissolved 

 by the gastric juice ; but which, 1 think, can scarcely have been 

 the case, since Orfila found it to be insoluble in albumen, gela- 

 tine, milk, or bile, at the common ordinary temperature. 



The above results, are the primary effects of the phosphorus 

 on the stomach and intestines ; the symptoms subsequently en- 



