"""  siprxs^ys""'}   The  Adminiftration  of  Phosphorus,  413 
70°  C,  2  per  cent,  of  its  weight  of  phosphorus,  and  that  the  solution 
agitated  during  cooling  in  a  hermetically-closed  flask  forms  a  fairly 
homogeneous  preparation  ;  but  it  reddens  with  extreme  facility  when 
exposed  to  the  action  even  of  diffused  light.  During  the  winter  months 
the  effect  is  very  perceptible  after  -k  few  hours.  Even  when  contain- 
ing only  I  per  cent,  of  phosphorus,  phosphoretted  spermaceti  is  rapidly 
colored  by  light.  Moreover,  this  preparation  has  the  disadvantage  of 
other  solid  preparations,  that  it  is  necessary  to  pulverize  it  before  it  is 
used  ;  neither  does  it  melt  at  the  temperature  of  the  body.  The  author, 
therefore,  considers  that  it  presents  no  advantages  over  the  resin  and 
other  solid  preparations. 
Dr.  Routh  has  also  indicated  neat's-foot  oil  as  a  good  solvent  of 
phosphorus,*  but  he  has  omitted  to  specify  its  particular  advantages, 
probably.  Dr.  Mehu  thinks,  because  he  is  not  acquainted  with  any. 
But  Dr.  Mehu  states  that  in  his  experiments  he  has  found  that  animal 
oil  gives  only  mediocre  results.  Further,  commercial  neat's-foot  oil  is 
so  variable  a  product  that  it  cannot  prudently  be  used  for  a  preparation 
the  constant  composition  of  which  is  indispensable. 
In  the  preparation  of  phosphorated  cod-liver  oil,  Dr.  Mehu  does  not 
recommend  the  direct  solution  of  the  phosphorus  in  the  cod-liver  oil 
by  the  aid  of  heat  \  but  that  a  sufficient  quantity  of  oil  of  almonds 
containing  i  per  cent,  of  phosphorus,  be  added  to  the  cod-liver  oil  to 
bring  it  up  to  the  richness  in  phosphorus  required. 
Phosphorated  ether  is  open  to  the  serious  objection  that  by  its  rapid 
volatilization  free  solid  phosphorus  is  deposited.  Further,  whilst  it  is 
difficult  to  obtain  ether  free  from  water  and  alcohol,  its  solvent  power 
with  respect  to  phosphorus  will  vary  with  the  proportions  of  each  of 
those  bodies  present.  On  the  other  hand,  phosphorated  ether  will  not 
mix  with  water  ;  introduced  into  an  emulsion  or  draught  it  quickly 
deposits  solid  phosphorus,  and  a  similar  deposit  of  solid  phosphorus  is 
to  be  feared  when  phosphorated  ether  is  introduced  into  the  stomach  in 
capsules. 
With  respect  to  the  so  called  solution  of  chlorophosphide  of  arsenic, 
obtained  by  allowing  the  hydrochloric  acid  to  react  upon  phosphorus 
and  arsenic  in  a  fine  state  of  division,  f  Dr.  Mehu  says  that  such  a 
mixture  is  neither  a  solution  of  free  phosphorus  nor  of  chlorophosphide 
ot  arsenic,  but  a  hydrochloric  solution  of  variable  composition,  con- 
*  "  Pharm.  Journ."  [3  J,  vol.  iv,  p.  965.    "  Amer,  Journ.  Pharm.,"  1874,  p.  337, 
t*'Pharm.  Journ."  [3],  vol.  iv,  p.  965.  Ibid.  p.  338, 
