PHOSPHORUS HYDROGENATUS.
Phosphoretted hydrogen; Phosphene, PH3.
Authority.
Dr. Breunar, Peters. Med.
Zeit., 1865 (S. J., 127, 163), effects of inhaling the gas, while
preparing some “hypophosphites.”►
After working about three months, he
began to notice flickering points in his field of vision, which rapidly
enlarged, and in four weeks rendered it impossible to fix his vision
upon any object, especially in reading. At the same time a diarrhœa
developed, with weakness and unsteadiness of the arms, that gradually
rendered it very difficult for him to write. The unsteadiness of the
lower extremities was associated with undercurrent shooting pains in
them and in the abdomen, and his gait became very tottering. The teeth
also began to crumble, both the healthy and carious teeth, without any
pain. There was no headache, vertigo, nor anæsthesia, no sensitiveness
of the spine, no disturbance of hearing, nor of the mental powers. At
last ataxia of the muscles that control articulation became apparent, so
that it was necessary to make a great effort of the will to articulate
the word he wished to speak; swallowing also became somewhat difficult.
The patient exhibited a complete expression of ataxia; he stood with the
extremities separated; co-ordinated movement (walking) was wholly
impossible when the eyes were closed; the patient would stagger and fall
down. There was no anæsthesia of the skin or muscles; electric
irritability of the muscles was, indeed, extraordinary increased, and
there was also no muscular atrophy. The optic nerve was extremely
irritable, reflex optic symptoms could be produced not only by
irritation of the trigeminus, but also from the nape of the neck, from
the lower angle of the scapula, and often from the upper arm. The
auditory nerve was normal, though exhibiting some symptoms of
hyperæsthesia. The patient was gradually cured by electricity.® 2000
Article