PHOSPHORUS. 
§ 306.] 
249 
AgN0 3 ; and in any case the contents of the U-tube and flask are mixed, 
oxidised with nitromuriatic acid, filtered from silver chloride, and the 
phosphoric acid determined in the usual way. 
In the case of a child poisoned by lucifer matches, Sonnenschein 
estimated the free phosphorus in the following way :—The contents of 
the stomach were diluted with water, a measured part filtered, and 
the phosphoric acid estimated. The other portion was then oxidised 
by HC1 and potassic chlorate, and the phosphoric acid estimated—the 
difference being calculated as free phosphorus. 
§ 306 . How long can Phosphorus be recognised after Death ?—One of the 
most important matters for consideration is the time after death in which 
free phosphorus, or free phosphoric acid, can be detected. Any phosphorus 
changed into ammon. mag. phosphate, or into any other salt, is for medico¬ 
legal purposes entirely lost, since the expert can only take cognisance of 
the substance either in a free state, as phosphine, or as a free acid. 
The question, again, may be asked in court—Does the decomposition 
of animal substances rich in phosphorus develop phosphine ? The answer 
to this is, that no such reaction has been observed. 
A case is related 1 in which phosphorus was recognised, although the 
body had been buried for several weeks and then exhumed. 
The expert of pharmacy of the Provincial Government Board of 
Breslau has also made some experiments in this direction, which are 
worthy of note :—Four guinea-pigs were poisoned, each by 0-023 grm. 
of phosphorus ; they died in a few hours, and were buried in sandy loam 
soil, 0-5 metre deep. Exhumation of the first took place four weeks after. 
The putrefying organs—heart, liver, spleen, stomach, and all the intes¬ 
tines,—tested by Mitscherlich’s method of distillation, showed charac¬ 
teristic phosphorescence for nearly one hour. 
The second animal was exhumed after eight weeks in a highly putres¬ 
cent state. Its entrails, on distillation, showed the phosphorescent 
appearance for thirty-five minutes. 
The third animal was taken from the earth after twelve weeks, but no 
free phosphorus could be detected, although there was evidence of the 
lower form of oxidation (P0 3 ) by Blondlot’s method. 
The fourth animal was exhumed after fifteen weeks, but neither free 
phosphorus nor P0 3 could be detected. 2 
A man, as well as a cat, was poisoned by phosphorus. On analysis, 
twenty-nine days after death, negative results were alone obtained.— 
(Sonnenschein.) 
It will thus be evident that there is no constant rule, and that, even 
when decomposition is much advanced, an examination may be successful. 
1 Pharm. Zeitsch. f. Russl., Jahrg. 2, p. 87. 
2 Vierteljahrsschrift fur gerichtliche Medicin , Jan. 7, 1876 ; see also Zeitschr. f. 
anal. Chemie, 1872. 
