PHOSPHORIC AND HYPOPHOS PHOROUS ACIDS.—Phosphoiic acid as used in medicine is orthophosphoric acid. The official acid is a colorless, syrupy liquid, without odor, having an intensely-acid taste. It should not con tain less than 85 per cent. absolute orthophosphoric acid. It is soluble in all proportions in water and in alcohol.
When heated above 392° P. it changes into pyrophosphoric acid. Dilute phos phoric acid should contain 10 per cent. of absolute acid.
Hypophosphorous acid is a clear, color less, and odorless, sour liquid, miscible in all proportions with water, and is de composed at high temperatures. The pure acid is not official. Dilute hypo phosphorous acid should contain 10 per cent. of absolute acid.
Preparations and Doses.—Acidum hypophosphorosum dilutum (U. S. P.), 10 to 60 minims.
Acidum phosphoricum (U. S. P.), 3 to 7 minims.
Acidum phosphoricum dilutum (U. S. P.), 10 to 60 minims.
Physiological Action.—Pure phos phoric acid is a local irritant and cscha rotic. When taken internally well di luted, it stimulates the stomach and aids digestion. It stimulates the appetite, in creases the salivary secretion, and acts as a general tonic. In large doses it acidifies the urine. Hypophosphorous acid is stimulant and tonic in its action.
Therapeutics.—The dilute acids in doses of 20 to 60 drops are useful as tonic and gastric stimulants. They are useful in nervous exhaustion in that they aid digestion by stimulating the stomach. In all debilitated conditions, as anmmia, the exhaustion of prolonged lactation, and in bronchial catarrh of the aged they are useful. Like the min eral acids, they should be given before meals in hyperacidity of the stomach. Phosphoric acid may be preferred to the mineral acids in typhoid fever when nervous prostration is a prominent symptom. The dilute acid may be used as a stimulant to indolent ulcers.
PHOSPHORUS.—Phosphorus is a non-metallic element. In the state of combined phosphoric acid it is containedin the ancient unstratified rock and in the lavas of modern times. As these
disintegrate and crumble down into the fertile soil, the phosphates pass into the plants and ultimately as food into the bodies of man and animals. The earthy phosphates communicate rigidity to the bony skeleton.
Phosphorus was discovered in 1669 by Brandt, of Hamburg, who obtained it from urine. It is now obtained from bones. When pure, phosphorus very much resembles imperfectly bleached wax and is soft and flexible at common temperatures. It occurs in yellowish, semitransparent sticks, which have a waxy lustre when cut. It is luminous in the dark and when exposed to the air. It is soluble in chloroform, carbon di sulphide, oils, SO parts of ether, and in 350 parts of absolute alcohol.
Preparations and Doses.—Phosphorus (U. S. P.), to grain.
Elixir phosphori, U. S. P. (phos phorus, 0.025 per cent.), to 2 drachms.
Oleum phosphoratum, U. S. P. (phos phorus, 1 per cent.), 1 to 5 minims.
Pilule phosphori, U. S. P. (phos phorus, 7,„ grain), 1 to 2 pills.
Spiritus phosphori, U. S. P. (phos phorus, 0.12 per cent.), 1 to 5 minims.
Liquor phosphori (Thompson's solu tion: grain of phosphorus in each drachm), to 1 drachm.
Calcii hypophosphis (U. S. P.), 5 to 30 Calcii phosphas proecipitatus (U. S. P.), 5 to 30 grains.
Ferri hypophosphis (U. S. P.), 5 to 10 grains.
Ferri pyrophosphas solubilis (U. S. P.), 2 to 5 grains.
Potassii hypophosphis (U. S. P.), 5 to 30 grains.
Sodii hypophosphis (U. S. P.), 5 to 20 grains.
Sodii phosphas (U. S. P.), 1 to S drachms.
Sochi pyrophosphas (U. S. P.), 2 to 20 grains.
Zinci phosphidum (U. S. P.), to grain.
Syrupus calcii lactophosphatis (U. S. P.), 1 to 2 drachms.
Syrupus ferri, quininT et phosphatum, to 1 drachm.
Syrupus hypophosphitum (lime salt, 4.5 per cent.; soda and potash salt, each, 1.5 per cent.), 1 to 2 drachms.
Syrupus hypophosphitum cum ferro (1 per cent. ferrous lactate and potas sium citrate), to 1 V, drachms.