phossy
Phossy, also known as phossy jaw, was a severe occupational disease affecting workers who manufactured white phosphorus matches. This condition, characterized by osteonecrosis of the jaw, was prevalent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The disease resulted from prolonged exposure to the vapors of white phosphorus, which was used for the heads of matches to allow for easy ignition. Workers inhaled these toxic fumes, leading to the death of bone tissue in the jaw.
Symptoms of phossy jaw typically began with toothache, followed by swelling of the gums and jaw. As
The recognition of phossy jaw as a direct consequence of the working conditions in match factories eventually