This white phosphorus misadventure concerns a monsieur who got more than he bargained for when striking a light in Paris. The newspaper reporting the matter on 24th August 1878 was the Kenilworth Advertiser.
He had struck a match using his thumb nail, with some of the white phosphorus getting under his finger nail. Dramatic events appear to have occurred when the poison spread to his whole arm. Within 27 hours the systemic poisoning had killed him. This is just one of many examples of why these matches and the trade that made them were so dangerous and why they had to be banned. The chemical of course would continue to be made and both people and the environment. 😥
