232 POISONS : THEIR EFFECTS AND DETECTION. [§§ 285 , 286 . 
of phosphorus poisoning resulted—an observation confirmed by others,— 
the reason being that the phosphorus particles in a comparatively coarse 
state of division were arrested in the capillaries of the lung, and may be 
said to have been, as it were, outside the body. On the other hand, 
A. Brunner, 1 working in L. Hermann’s laboratory, having injected into 
the veins phosphorus in such a fine emulsion that the phosphorus could 
pass the lung capillaries, found that there were no exhalations of white 
fumes, but that the ordinary symptoms of phosphorus poisoning soon 
manifested themselves. Phosphorus paste, by the method of manu¬ 
facture, is in a state of extreme subdivision, and hence all the phosphorus 
pastes are extremely poisonous. 
§ 285. In a few poisons there is a difference, more or less marked, 
between the general symptoms produced on man, and those noticeable 
in the different classes of animals ; but with phosphorus the effects on 
animals appear to agree fairly with those witnessed most frequently in 
man. Tardieu (who has written perhaps the best and most complete 
clinical record of phosphorus poisoning extant) divides the cases under 
three classes, and to use his own words :—“ I think it useful to establish 
that poisoning by phosphorus in its course, sometimes rapid, sometimes 
slow, exhibits in its symptoms three distinct forms—a common form, a 
nervous form, and a haemorrhagic form. I recognise that, in certain 
cases, these three forms may succeed each other, and may only constitute 
periods of poisoning ; but it is incontestable that each of them may show 
itself alone, and occupy the whole course of the illness produced by the 
poison.” 2 Premising that the common form is a blending of irritant, 
nervous, and haemorrhagic symptoms, we adopt here in part Tardieu’s 
division. The name of “ haemorrhagic form ” may be given to that in 
which haemorrhage is the predominant feature, and the “ nervous ” to 
that in which the brain and spinal cord are from the first affected. 
There yet remain, however, a few cases which have an entirely anomalous 
course, and do not fall under any of the three classes. 
From a study of 121 recorded cases of phosphorus poisoning, the 
relative frequency of the different forms appears to be as follows :— 
The common form 83 per cent., haemorrhagic 10 per cent., nervous 6 
per cent., anomalous 1 per cent. The “ anomalous ” are probably 
over-estimated, for the reason that cases presenting ordinary features 
are not necessarily published, but others are nearly always chronicled 
in detail. 
§ 286. Common Form. At the moment of swallowing, a disagree¬ 
able taste and smell are generally experienced, and there may be im¬ 
mediate and intense pain in the throat, gullet, and stomach, and almost 
immediate retching and vomiting. The throat and tongue also may 
1 Arch. f. d. Ges. Physiologie, iii. 1 . 
kitude medico-legale et clinique sur VEmpoisonnement, Paris, 1875, p. 483, 
