Chapter 3 begins with the warnings and benefits of Dr. Ashburton Thompson on phosphorus. Those consisting of the effects of phosphorus ointments and more to do with that subject.
Thompson's book Free Phosphorus, was published in 1874 and more than devoted to extolling the benefits phosphorus could bring to the relief of suffering humans. The use of phosphorus as an ointment was never really popular, but when used fascinated the patients by making them glow in the dark. At this time looking back it seems weird to us that such a poisonous element was used for medical treatment, but back then there was no bar as to what they used it for. Paracelsus was born in 1493. He was one to oppose the ancient idea, of disease being caused by an imbalance of "humours" in the body. His idea was that each disease that arose had a specific cause and therefore a chemical remedy. It was his idea and novel that caused many sorts of chemicals to be used as medical treatments, such as mercury treatments for syphilis; antimony for treating fevers; and bismuth for upset stomachs. The fact of them being deadly poisons didn't prevent them from being prescribed by physicians. Therefore, phosphorus being extracted from urine and glowed with its own source of light added to the attraction of it, the certain glow it had gave more evidence towards being the 'flammula vitae', or the vital flame of life.
The first person to sell phosphorus as a pharmaceutical treatment was Johann Lancke. He ran into a problem when he realized that phosphorus was extremely flammable and it needed to have a protective coating. He found he could use silver or gold for the coating. The metals could provide protection to prevent a pill from rapidly oxidizing and catching fire, but they were incapable of preventing its slow oxidation and thankfully converted most of the deadly poison into harmless oxides and acids. He began to sell the pills as 'Kunckel's pills' which increased popularity. Every pill weighed about 200 mg and was reputed as a beneficial treatment for colic, asthmatic fevers, tetanus, and gout. Of course, they were really useless in treating any of the above conditions, and if they were to really contain 200 mg of phosphorus they would have been severely poisonous. In some reported cases there were pills which contained 800 mg of phosphorus, and would have inevitably killed whoever took them. 'Kunckel's pills' ceased to be manufactured and he never revealed how to make them. The pills were unavailable until a French pharmacist rediscovered the means of producing them. He then too ceased making them once he found one pill could become fatal.
Treatment with phosphorus really seemed to spark with a discovery made by Professor Johann Thomas Huesing, in 1719 he discovered phosphorus in the brain tissue and the numbers were unexpectedly high, and the amount was higher than in any other body part. His findings implicated that phosphorus was rather important to the brain. This link between phosphorus and the brain was strengthened when a Dr. Kramer announced it was a remedy for epilepsy and melancholia, which is also known as depression. Later researchers and scientists began provide explanations for why humans differ so much in terms of mental ability, and that being: levels of phosphorus in the brain. A philosopher Friederich Nietzsche thought that chemicals in the body might have a determining influence on personality, etc.
Phosphorus acquired an undeserved reputation as a treatment for TB in 1796. It became considerably beneficial to the nervous system, and treating neuroglia, and bone conditions. It is still used as a nerve tonic to this day. It is proven that phosphorus is overall inevitably harmful, and less beneficial which is where the tweaks come in and phosphates are known more to be used, being less harmful.
P.S. Incredibly sorry that this post is so long, but this chapter was filled with great information and answers to questions I've been asking myself of treatments of phosphorus, and its harmfulness.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Chapter 2- The alchemist and his apprentice
As we step into chapter two, we take a look into the alchemist Robert Boyle's life. Robert Boyle was part of the Royal Society and had retained a life long search for the philosopher's stone, just like many other alchemists and chemists some being included in the first chapter like Kraft, Kunckel, and Brandt. The Royal Society was first created by King Charles II, in 1660 to promote the study of science. Boyle did a lot of work in the transmutation of base metals into gold, and many of his papers are cited in the chapter as well. As he experimented with many elements such as Mercury, he looked towards the good things about it, and eventually the bad caught up to him and King Charles II. Acute mercury poisoning seemed to be the cause of his chronic illness, and King Charles II's death.
When Kraft, who was discussed in chapter one, arrived in London, Boyle invites him to display his findings of phosphorus. Boyle was so fascinated with phosphorus that he knew he had to make his own and discover the properties of phosphorus. To trim things up a bit, Daniel Kraft shows his stuff and Boyle wants to know of the "recipe." Kraft only gave him clue, "it belonged to the human body," and Boyle's personal investigation began. Throughout Boyle's papers, the change from secretive alchemist changed to scientific chemist around 1680. Boyle wrote his papers full of his observations, experiments, and tried to explain everything in plain English, but not only that but so the ordinary person could read them. The chapter continues on with Boyle's experiments and the road to the discovery of his own phosphorus.
Monday, March 10, 2014
The 13th Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus- Blog 1
John Emsley begins the book, The Thirteenth Element: The Sordid Tale of Murder, Fire, and Phosphorus, with an intriguing introduction of phosphorus. Phosphorus is man made, and not a natural element, but a chemical element. Phosphorus is a derivative of phosphates when oxidized. The name phosphorus derives from the ancient Greek words phos, meaning light, and phorus, meaning bringing. The chemical element, is known for murder, spontaneous human combustion, graveyard ghosts, and mysterious lights.
Beginning in the first chapter, Emsley informs us of the multiple "founders" of phosphorus. Although it may have been around for a long time before, the story begins with Henning Brandt. On a cold, dark night this alchemist was having no luck with his recent experiments, and was on the road of searching for the philosopher's stone. Like many before him, he was studying the gold stream, also referred to as urine, and heating the residues from which he had boiled down to a dry solid. Stoking at his fire, he recognized a pale green lighted flame and hour after hour the light never disappeared. Indeed, he had phosphorus. As this goes on, Brandt, calling himself Herr Doktor Brandt, creates many friends and foes at the same time. Like many alchemist, money was tough and that's where the other founders come into play, including Johann Kunckel and Daniel Kraft. Daniel Kraft became the one who bought all of Brandt's phosphorus and traveled around palaces, showing off and entertaining the rich. When Kunckel was denied access to the phosphorus from Kraft and Brandt, he went on to do his own work.
The story turns toward Johann Kunckel, when he successfully produces phosphorus on his own and not only that but successfully turns lead into gold which Brandt could not do. With his many fortunes, came great opportunity and the book continues. Kunckel was given the name of discoverer, and died in 1703. While Kunckel and Brandt at home, Kraft continued making his progress showing off the phosphorus he bought off of Brandt, making a name for himself. Time continues, and Brandt became in need for more money. Eventually he became the resident alchemist in the Court of St. James, requested by the Duke. The alchemy of phosphorus is deeply discussed and shown and that's where the fun begins.
Throughout the books, simple and hard questions are asked and answered. Such as, what is phosphorus? Why does it glow in the dark? How can it be produced from urine? And the journey begins.
Beginning in the first chapter, Emsley informs us of the multiple "founders" of phosphorus. Although it may have been around for a long time before, the story begins with Henning Brandt. On a cold, dark night this alchemist was having no luck with his recent experiments, and was on the road of searching for the philosopher's stone. Like many before him, he was studying the gold stream, also referred to as urine, and heating the residues from which he had boiled down to a dry solid. Stoking at his fire, he recognized a pale green lighted flame and hour after hour the light never disappeared. Indeed, he had phosphorus. As this goes on, Brandt, calling himself Herr Doktor Brandt, creates many friends and foes at the same time. Like many alchemist, money was tough and that's where the other founders come into play, including Johann Kunckel and Daniel Kraft. Daniel Kraft became the one who bought all of Brandt's phosphorus and traveled around palaces, showing off and entertaining the rich. When Kunckel was denied access to the phosphorus from Kraft and Brandt, he went on to do his own work.
The story turns toward Johann Kunckel, when he successfully produces phosphorus on his own and not only that but successfully turns lead into gold which Brandt could not do. With his many fortunes, came great opportunity and the book continues. Kunckel was given the name of discoverer, and died in 1703. While Kunckel and Brandt at home, Kraft continued making his progress showing off the phosphorus he bought off of Brandt, making a name for himself. Time continues, and Brandt became in need for more money. Eventually he became the resident alchemist in the Court of St. James, requested by the Duke. The alchemy of phosphorus is deeply discussed and shown and that's where the fun begins.
Throughout the books, simple and hard questions are asked and answered. Such as, what is phosphorus? Why does it glow in the dark? How can it be produced from urine? And the journey begins.
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