52 THE MICROSCOPE. 
and ammonia are formed. Among the intermediate substances 
formed during putrefaction is a class of bodies, basic in character, 
containing nitrogen, and having chemical and physical properties 
corresponding with those of the vegetable alkaloids. These putre- 
factive alkaloids have been named ptoméiines. 
: Brieger and others in Europe, and Vaughan and Novy in this 
country, have succeeded in isolating from various decomposing 
substances, and studying, over forty ptomiines, some poisonous, 
others non-poisonous. ; 
~ Most of these are produced in decomposing substances outside 
the body, and excite poisonous symptoms when . taken into 
the alimentary canal. 
_ The poisonous effects of decomposing meats, milk and ice-cream 
are due to ptomiine formed during putrefaction. 
The ptomiines of the infectious diseases are elaborated in the 
body by the specific micro-organisms, and each micro-organism has 
its peculiar ptomadine. Thus, the typhoid bacillus elaborates the 
ptomiine typho-toxine; the bacillus of tetanus, tetanine; the anthrax 
bacillus, the ptomiine of anthrax, etc. These ptomaines, when intro- 
duced into the circulation of animals, induce the characteristic symp- 
toms of their respective diseases. 
This field of research is new, but it promises wonderful results 
in the study of the ultimate etiology of disease, and may be produc- 
tive of great advances in therapeutics. 
AcKNOWLEDGMENTS.—From M. S. Wiard, New Britain, Ct., slide 
of sand thrown up by earthquake; from Fr. Dienelt, Mellville, IL, 
insect mounts; from F. M. Barnard, Oberlin, Ohio, three histological 
slides; Mr. C. L. Peticolas, of Richmond, has sent us a number of his 
beautiful diatom mounts. For clean, satisfactory slides, these are 
beyond criticism. 
ZOOL 0 Gie* 
DrveLorment or Mretor.t—Josef Nusbaum describes briefly the 
development of the oil beetle, Meloe. This form is very convenient for 
embryological studies, as it breeds well in confinement and lays little 
piles of eggs, all the eggs in a single pile developing synchronously. 
*Under this heading will be included all Abstracts relating to the Embryology, 
Histology, etc., of Vertebrates and Invertebrates. 
+Biol. Centralblatt, VIII, p. 449-452.—Am. Naturalist, Nov. 1888. 
