PHOSPHORUS. 
§§ 294, 295 .] 
237 
the ossification was quickened. The formation of callus in fractured 
limbs was also increased. 
§ 294. Changes in the Urinary Secretion.— It has been before stated 
that, at a certain period of the illness, the renal secretion is scantier 
than in health, the urine diminishing, according to Lebert and Wyss’s 1 
researches, to one-half on the third, fourth, or fifth day. It frequently 
contains albumen, blood, and casts. When jaundice is present, the urine 
has then all the characters noticed in icterus ; leucin, tyrosin, glycocoll, 
alanin, cystin, and arginin have been found in small quantity in jaundice 
through phosphorus; sarco-lactic p-oxyphenylacetic and hydro- 
p~coumaric acids are also present. The urea is much diminished, and, 
according to Schultzen and Riess, 2 may be towards death entirely 
absent. The ammonia nitrogen, on the other hand, is much increased— 
evidence of abnormal breaking up of proteins. Lastly, it is said that 
there is an exhalation of either phosphorus vapour or phosphine from 
such urine. In some cases the urine is normal, e.g. in a case recorded 
by E. H. Starling, M.D., and F. G. Hopkins, B.Sc. {Guy's Hospital 
Report , 1890), in which a girl, aged 18, died on the fifth day after 
taking phosphorus paste, the liver was fatty, and there was jaundice ; 
but the urine contained neither leucin nor tyrosin, and was stated to 
be generally normal. 
§ 295. Changes in the blood during life have been several times 
observed. In a case attended by M. Romellsere of Brussels, 3 in which 
a man took the paste from 300 matches, and under treatment by 
turpentine recovered, the blood was frequently examined, and the 
leucocytes found much increased in number. There is a curious conflict 
of evidence as to whether phosphorus prevents coagulation of the blood 
or not. Nasse asserted that phosphorated oil given to a dog fully 
prevented coagulation ; P. I. Liebreck 4 also, in a series of researches, 
found the blood dark, fluid, and in perfect solution. These observations 
were also supported by V. Bibra and Schuchardt. 5 Nevertheless, 
Lebert and Wyss found the blood, whether in the veins or in extravasa¬ 
tions, in a normal condition. Phosphorus increases the fatty contents of 
the blood. Ritter found that phosphorus mixed with starch, and given 
to a dog, raised the fatty content from the normal 2 per 1000 up to 
3-41 and 3*47 per 1000. Eug. Menard 6 saw in the blood from the 
1 Archiv generate de Med., 0 ser., xii. 709, 1808. 
2 Annalen der Charite, Berlin. 
3 Tardieu, op. cit.. Case 31. 
4 Diss. de Venefico Phosphoreo Acuto, Upsal, 1845. 
5 V. Bibra u. Geist, Die Krankheiten der Arbeiter in den Phosphorzundholz 
Fabriken, 1847, p. 59, etc. ; Henle u. v. Pfeuffer’s Zeitschr. f. ration. Med., N.F., 
Bd. vii. Hft. 3, 1857. 
6 Etude experimental sur quelques lesions de V Empoisonnement aigu par le 
Phosphore( These), Strasbourg, 1869. 
