lucifer match

Originally a match tipped with a mixture of chlorate of potash and sulphuret ot antimony, and inflamed by friction upon a piece of emery-paper. These wore superseded by mixtures containing phosphorus. Lucifer -match disease: Path.: Necrosis of the jaws, arising from the inhalation of the fumes of phosphorus during the manufacture of lucifer-matches. It has been especially described by Von Bibra and Geist, who had abundant opportunities of observing the disease at the large manufactories at Nuremberg. "This lucifer -match disease was some years ago very frequent, but in consequence of the adoption of precautionary measures, is now much more rarely met with." -Erichsen : Surgery (ed. Beck), ii. 577.