[Suicide by phosphorus poisoning (author's transl)].

In central European countries phosphorus poisonings are rare today. A case of a suicidal intoxication with yellow phosphorus was studied. The clinical course showed the typical three stages including a symptom-free period, although death occurred within 50 h from acute toxic damage of the myocardium. The oral ingestion of phosphorus presents an emergency which demands immediate treatment. Prognosis is depending on the amount of phosphorus absorption in the intestine which is expected to be high if the poison is in a liquid vehicle.