"""sipt^s^s""'}      The  Adminiftration  of  Phosphorus.  41 1 
pulverize  the  resin  before  it  can  be  used,  the  air  oxidizes  this  divided 
phosphorus  much  more  easily  in  the  time  taken  up  by  this  operation 
than  in  the  few  moments  phosphorated  oil  is  exposed  whilst  being  added 
to  a  mixture.  The  dire  ct  pulverization  of  ordinary  phosphorus  for  in- 
corporation with  a  pill  mass  is  not  more  defective,  and  gives  as  good 
results.  Moreover,  phosphoretted  resin  has  been  observed  by  Dr. 
Pile  *  to  become  red  under  the  influence  of  light  ;  this  is  what  might 
have  been  expected,  by  reason  of  the  incomplete  solution  of  the  phos- 
phorus. The  preparations  of  phosphorus,  which  are  solid  at  ordinary 
temperatures,  appear  all  to  have  a  similar  tendency.  When  made  into 
an  emulsion,  phosphoretted  resin  rapidly  deposits  at  the  bottom  of  the 
bottle,  and  the  deposit  becomes  red  ;  the  preparation,  in  consequence 
of  the  great  density  of  the  phosphorus  (=  1*8),  cannot  long  preserve  its 
homogeneity.  Submitted  to  the  action  of  alcohol,  phosphoretted  resin 
abandons  nearly  all  its  phosphorus  as  a  fine  powder  ;  scarcely  anything 
but  the  resin  dissolving,  unless  the  proportion  of  alcohol  be  very  con- 
siderable. 
Dr.  Mehu  considers  that  for  similar  reasons  the  use  of  solid  phos- 
phorus ought  to  be  proscribed  from  pharmacy.  A  vigorous  shaking  of 
a  mixture  containing  solid  phosphorus  well  divided  can  only  diminish  the 
dangerous  inconveniences  attending  its  use,  but  never  totally  remove 
them.  Non-saturated  solutions,  in  his  opinion,  alone  present  the  phos- 
phorus in  an  extreme  state  of  division,  and  allow  of  a  certain  and  reg- 
ular administration.  It  should  also  be  remembered  that  phosphorus  does 
not  fuse  below  44*2°  C,  that  is,  at  a  temperature  above  that  of  the 
human  body,  and  that  only  as  much  can  be  absorbed  as  is  dissolved. 
The  experiments  of  the  Reveil  and  Personne  have  proved  that  large 
pieces  of  phosphorus  can  be  swallowed  with  impunity  by  dogs. 
To  avoid  the  inconvenience  in  preparing  phosphoretted  resin,  Mr. 
Abraham  f  has  proposed  to  substitute  balsam  of  tolu  for  the  resin.  But 
as  this  preparation  is  no  more  soluble  in  the  stomach  or  fusible  at  the 
temperature  of  the  human  body  than  Mr.  Gerrard's,  Dr.  Mehu  does 
not  consider  it  presents  any  marked  practical  advantage  over  phospho- 
retted resin. 
Phosphoretted  wax,  melting  at  about  68°  C,  is,  in  Dr.  Mehu's 
opinion,  not  more  advantageous  ;  since,  although  it  is  more  easily  made 
*'  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm.,"  1874,  p.  193. 
**  Pharm.  Journ."  [3],  vol.  iv,  p.  549.    "  Amer.  Journ.  Pharm,,"  1 874,  p.  115. 
