Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1888-04-19
EFFECTS OF PHOSPHORUS.
Its Constant Use Leads to the Decay
of the Inferior MaxiIIary.

Its Constant Use Leads to the Decay
of the Inferior Maxillary.
TSan Francisco Chronicle March 2s
A man aged about 40 years, giving his
name as John Clayton. applied for admis-
sion to the city and county hospital on the
18th inst. Upon examination it was found
that he was suffering from necrosis, or
death of the inferior maxillary Qower jaw
bone, besides general breaking down of
his nervous, mental and physical powers.
The normal contour of his face was de-
stroyed by the swelling of the tissues sur
rounding his jaws, and mis- mouth was dis
tended until his facial appearance was
most repulsive. Added to this, his face
was of peculiar, ashen pallor, different
from that seen in most kinds of sickness
All the teeth in the lower jaw, save one,
were gone, and the cavities where they had
been were filed with pus, while the gums
were contracted, exposing here and there
portions of the jaw. The od0r emanating
from the parts affected was unbearable.
The man was suffering the most intense
pain, to alleviate which he had been tax
ing one-half grain of morphia daily for
several days before going to the hospital.
1t was impossible for him to masticate, and
he had been subsisting on liquid food for
more than month. The presence of pus
in his mouth was a source of septic infec-
ton to the patients blood, and he already
showed symptoms of blood poisoning when
he entered: the hospital.
In stating his case to the attending ply
sician, Clayton said that fourteen years
ago, while serving as a soldier in the
United States army, stationed in this
State and Nevada, he was given the posi-
ton of hospital steward of his regiment.
While acting in this capacity he learned
something of the nature Of drugs and their
immediate effect on the system. He saw
phosphorus administered to sick soldiers
to brace up their nervous system, and it
was the knowledge which he gained then
of this property of phosphorus that occa-
stoned his present condition, for while suf-
fering from what he thought was nervous
debility, he began taking PHOSPHORUS in
pill form, and found that it acted as a
stimulant, putting new strength and en-
ergy into his system. He continued the
use of the drug for several months without
ceasing, and then gave it up for short
time. Then he began to feel the symp-
toms of the nervous trouble returning, and
he again resorted to the use OF phospho-
rus. Whenever he discontinued taking it
he felt the need of some nerve tonic. and
being opposed to alcoholic stlmulants he
would always return to phosphorus pills.
For years he used the drug unremittingly,
carry ing his case of pills as constantly as
the opium. eater, until the habit grew on
him and he could not break it off. The
amount of phosphorus which he
was in the habit of taking daily
would kill an ordinary man. One one
hundredth of grain of phosphorus consti-
tutes a regular dose. Physicians usually
prescribe this quantity, rarely more, and
sometimes less, watching carefully its ef-
feet. In this case the man took as much
as one-tenth of grain in day for more
than year. Lately he had been vefta-
BILE slave to the drug, having no will power
or control of his nerves for moment with
out being stimulated by it. All this time
he was not aware that the drug had him
under its control or that it was injuring
him. He reasoned that his nervous system
was so constituted that it required con-
slant stimulsnt and that phosphorus sup
piled that want, and being cheapand easily
taken he used it as medicine. Some
years ago his teeth began to decay and
drop out, and the lower jaw also showed
symptoms of crumbling away. He did not
attribute these troubles to the phosphorus
and it was only when the blood became
poisoned from the exudations of his jaw
that he resorted to morphia to alleviate his
suffering.
The only hope the ply ysicians at the hos
pital held out to him was the removal OF
| the iawbone. as it was so far decayed as to
be menace to his life-it was poisoning
his entire system. Accordingly he was
placed on strengthening diet, such as
could be given him, consisting of beef tea,
wine and iron and the like, to prepare him
for the operation. This course was con-
tinued until Monday, when the jaw was
removed, the operation consisting of an in
cision made along the base of the bone
from ear to ear, and, the flesh being drawn
back, the jaw was sawed through in the
middle of the chin and the pieces disar-
ticulated at the joint in front of the ear
The mouth was then thoroughly cleansed
and the flesh on the cheeks drawn to-
gether and stitched in place. The patient
is doing as we'll as could be expected, con-
sidering his shattered constitution and the
nature of the operation performed upon
him. 1t is impossible tor him to articu.
late, and he makes known his wants in
writing, using his left hand, the right be-
ing devoid of four fingers. The pa
tient is a man of more than ordinary in.
telligence, as indicated by his written re-
quests, which are always expressed in good
language.
In administering stmulants to him, bee
tea, wine, milk, brandy and the like are
given, but so great is his craving for phos.
phorus that he constantly begs to be al
lowed few pills of it. Frequently hypo'
dermic injections of mo-phia must be given
him to quiet his nervous system.
The case of Clayton is remarkable from
the fact that no instances are recorded IN
medical science where man has developed
the habit of phosphorus pill-taking, OF
where such large doses taken daily for &c
long q time was indulged in. The medical
profession has now new habit Of evil t<
contend against in the phosphorus habit
Its immediate effects are not noticeable ex'
cept in the vigor which it gives to the
nervous system, but the continuance 0fitre
suits most disastrously, as shown in the
case of Clayton.
Prohibition in Kansas.
| TOPEKA, KS, April 1.-THE decree in
the Siebold & Hsgelin brewery case, ir
which the United States supreme court