496 On the Modus Operandi of Phosphorus, ^c. 



It is only iihe first step that is hazardous, ce n^est que le premier pas 

 qui coute. 



In another experiment of Orfila, he gave a middling sized dog 

 one drachm of phosphorus, cut into eight pieces. He suffered 

 but little, and did not die until the third day. He had fed 

 heartily two hours before the phosphorus' was administered. In 

 this case, the mucous membrane of the stomach was oi^ purple red 

 throughout; that of the duodenum and jejunum likewise exceedingly 

 red ; and but little alteration in the other intestines. The cylin- 

 ders of phosphorus, reduced in bulk, were found in the colon and 

 rectum. In this case we obviously perceive the influence of a 

 full stomach in restraining the action of the phosphorus upon 

 its coats, especially as administered in the massive state. This 

 is confirmed by a subsequent observation of Orfila, who tells us, 

 that frequently the phosphorus had not acted on the texture of 

 the stomach several hours after its ingestion. I gave, says he, to an 

 animal a very great quantity of food, and immediately after, two 

 drachms of phosphorus, cut into twenty small cylinders. At the 

 expiration of eight hours, he had suffered no inconvenience. I 

 opened him, and found the phosphorus enveloped in the food, the 

 texture of the stomach exhibiting not the smallest trace of injury. 



Now, when much divided, it is more likely to come in contact 

 with the stomach, and produce injury, if oxygen is present. Thus 

 when he gave twenty-four grains dissolved (quere, if completely 

 so) in three drachms of olive oil, to a small but strong dog, ex- 

 cessive suffering followed, even in one minute, and he died in 

 horrible tortures in four hours and a half. The stomach was 

 empty, perforated with three holes in its cardiac extremity. Two 

 of them as broad as a shilling, the other ten lines in diameter : 

 the mucous membrane that was not thus perforated, was re- 

 duced to a stringy pulp ; and the muscular coat presented large 

 ulcerations. 



The tenor of all the observations, both of Dr. Harlan and of 

 Orfila, is conclusive, I apprehend, in negativing the idea of 

 phosphorus acting as a poison. And they equally prove its in- 

 noxious character, when oxygen is wanting to maintain its 

 combustion, even at the temperature of nearly 100°. The 

 safety of phosphoric acid is established (in proper amount) by 

 the experiments of Orfila, as well as by its administration, per se, 

 by many persons, remedially. — And hence, the <iisastrous, as 



