AmmSu.i,  i8H74RM' }  Medicinal  Exhibition  of  Phosphorus,  115 
yet  its  liquid  condition  and  non-oxidation  can  scarcely  be  ascribed 
to  this  circumstance.  We  therefore  consider  that  the  existence  of  a 
hitherto  unknown  liquid  modification  of  the  element  phosphorus  is  ren- 
dered highly  probable.  The  distinct  properties  it  possesses,  apart 
from  the  ordinary  substance,  are  much  more  clearly  marked  than 
those  upon  which  the  elastic  modification  of  sulphur  is  based. 
It  may  be  mentioned  incidentally  that  the  brittle  crystalline  mass, 
produced  on  the  passage  of  the  liquid  modification  to  the  solid  state^ 
differs  from  the  waxy  variety  of  ordinary  phosphorus.  It  oxidizes  so 
rapidly  on  exposure  to  air  as  to  produce  a  rise  of  temperature  suffi- 
cient for  its  liquefaction.  The  liquid  thus  produced  possesses  only 
the  properties  of  ordinary  melted  phosphorus,  and  catches  fire  very 
readily. 
Central  High  School. — Journ.  Franklin  Inst.,  Feb,  1874. 
THE  MEDICINAL  EXHIBITION  OF  PHOSPHORUS. 
By  A.  C.  Abraham. 
In  the  "  Pharmaceutical  Journal "  of  December  6th  appeared  an 
article  by  Mr.  Grerrard,  in  which  he  recommended  a  method  for  com- 
bining phosphorus  with  resin  for  the  above  purpose. 
The  process  involves  the  application  of  a  strong  heat  under  circum- 
stances extremely  inconvenient  and  dangerous  to  the  operator,  and 
calculated  to  deteriorate  the  product  by  the  oxidation  of  the  phos- 
phorus, and  by  its  conversion  into  the  amorphous  form. 
To  obviate  these  disadvantages  I  would  propose  to  use  some  resin 
fusible  below  the  boiling-point  of  water,  and  also  sufficiently  heavy  to 
sink  in  that  liquid.  Balsam  of  tolu  will  be  found  to  answer  both 
these  requirements,  and  by  its  use  the  combination  can  be  effected 
entirely  under  water.  Experiment  has  shown  that  four  grains  of 
phosphorus  are  perfectly  dissolved  by  96  grains  of  washed  tolu,  if 
melted  together  under  water  and  well  stirred. 
The  preparation  so  made,  when  examined  microscopically,  does  not 
show  any  particles  of  undissolved  phosphorus,  and  when  seen  in  the- 
dark,  and  rubbed  between  the  fingers,  it  gives  off  a  perfectly  equally 
distributed  light. 
This  preparation  may,  therefore,  be  formed  into  pills,  with  every 
confidence  in  the  equal  distribution  and  activity  of  the  phosphorus. 
Liverpool.  — London  Pharrn.  Jour.,  Jan.  10,  1874o. 
