PHOSPHORIC POISONS. 
265 
instant detection^ unless they can swallow lucifer matches 
without knowing it, for its stench will always betray its 
presence, however small the quantity ; but a dose sufficient 
to kill a human being would stink the place out ; and I 
must tell you, that when it ceases to stink, it is compara- 
tively harmless, not having power, I believe, to kill even a 
rat, mucli less a man. 
The truth appears to be, that phosphorus does not poison 
at all ; but being conveyed into the warm stomach, it begins 
to smoke and burn, and thereby creates such an ungovern- 
able thirst, that the animals (as some say) drink till they 
burst. But I certainly never saw one burst, except by a 
cart-wheel. It appears to me that the phosphorus creates 
such an insatiable craving, that the more they drink, the 
more they want. At last they become so full, that the 
heart has neither room nor power to act, and so the crea- 
tures die. 
For the making of phosphorus compounds, the following 
hints may be found useful. 
First. — Take good warning, and never touch raw phos- 
phorus with your fingers ! If you do, you may take my 
word for it, you will never touch it after ; for the burn is 
dreadful, and there is no getting rid of it till it has burnt 
itself out. 
Second, — Whatever quantity of phosphorus you may 
want, let the druggist weigh it for you. He will cork it 
tight up in a small bottle with water. 
Third. — Get a clean bottle, large enough for the quantity 
of compound you intend to make. Then melt the lard, and 
pour it into the bottle. That done, pour oif as much water 
from the phosphorus as you can safely, and turn the phos- 
phorus carefully into the lard ; then pour in the spirits of 
wine. By this means, you see, you avoid all danger of burn- 
ing, because you turn the phosphorus out of one bottle into 
the other. 
Fourth. — Keep out the cork, and plunge the bottle up to 
the neck in a saucepan of cold water ; then place it on the 
fire, and never leave it ; put your finger, not into the bottle, 
but into the water, from time to time, to try the heat ; and 
the instant it is too hot to bear with comfort, take out 
the bottle, and you will see the phosphorus melted at the 
