b72 LIVERPOOL VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION* 
compound like this superphosphate; but when I inform you that 
the better qualities are soft powders, with a slight acid flavour, 
and that they will consume readily large quantities of acid bodies, 
we cannot be surprised at their eating it when within their 
reach. 
I am informed that they have been known to lick these super¬ 
phosphate from the grass, as the men spread it on. 
Although poisoning by phosphorus is unfortunately too 
common, very few cases of poisoning by phosphoric acid or phos¬ 
phates have been recorded. 
Common phosphorus is a powerful poison, as proved in two 
cases quoted by Dr. Christison, in the one a human being died in 
twelve days, after taking a grain and a half; in the other by two 
grains in eight days. According to Hertwig, the poisonous dose 
for a horse is from twenty to thirty grains. 
Tabourin says that four grains in 3ij of oil injected into the 
jugular vein induce instantaneous death. Orfila says that in 
the dog from half a grain to a grain is sufficient to produce death, 
and that perforation of the stomach has occurred. 
With the view to clear some obscure points, I made the fol¬ 
lowing experiments on a goat, aged fifteen months, in moderate 
condition and perfectly healthy. Pulse 60. At nine o’clock in 
the morning I gave, in solution, 200 grains of superphosphate. 
At three in the afternoon the pulse had risen to 85. I then gave 
another dose of 200 grains, and repeated it again at ten o’clock 
in the evening. The following day I gave 200 grains three times, 
without any very apparent change. I continued with the same 
doses on the third day. Kumination -was now suspended, appe¬ 
tite lost, temperature of the body lowered, breathing similar to 
that of the cows, pulse quick and weak, and the visible mucous 
membranes injected. On the fourth day there were signs of great 
prostration. I discontinued giving the superphosphate, and the 
animal died on the fifth day, so that in all 1800 grains of super¬ 
phosphate were administered, containing 24 per cent, or 432 
grains of monocalcic phosphate, or 17| per cent., or 306 grains 
of phosphoric acid. 
It is, therefore, not a very powerful poison; and when we con¬ 
sider how much the farmer is now dependent on this class of 
manure, it is very fortunate it is not. 
The post-mortem appearances were very characteristic. On 
opening the body it was found to be gorged with blood, the 
heart (both sides), arteries, and veins, throughout the whole body 
being full. Excepting that the blood-vessels were very full, there 
was nothing remarkable about the brain or the lungs. The liver 
appeared to be enlarged, but otherwise there was nothing to note. 
The almost entire absence of internal fat was very conspicuous, 
