14 TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS. 



hydrine, and treating the resulting hydrochloride 

 with silver oxide. Betaine, C 5 HiiNO 2 , is found in 

 beets; it was discovered by Scheibler. Neurine is, 

 chemically, trimethylvinylammonium hydrate. 



4. Undetermined Leucomaines. - - Among these 

 bases several are important in more than one 

 respect. For instance spermine, which is found in 

 the sperm, is a strong base possessing a powerfully 

 dynamic and tonic action on the nerves. It acts 

 as an oxidizer. Spermine was first obtained by 

 Schreiner * from the sperm of mammifers in which 

 it occurs as a phosphate. It has the formula 

 C 5 Hi 4 N 2 . It was physiologically studied by Poehl, 

 Tarchanoff, Weljaminoff, and Joffroy.f Plasmaine, 

 a toxic base found in the blood and discovered 

 by R. Wurtz,J has the formula CsHisNs; prota- 

 mine, from fish milt, was discovered by Micocher. 



* Liebig's Ann. der Chemie, cxciv, p. 68. 

 t Journ. Soc. Phys. Chim. Russe, 1893, No. 2; and Bull. Soc. 

 Chim. (3), xii, p. 243. 



J Leucomaines du, Sang Normal, These, Paris, 1889. 



Joh reab. de Thierchen, 1874, p. 341 ; Picard, Ibid., p. 355. 



