ALKALOIDS. 409 



fall down helpless. Simultaneously frequent diarrhceic evacuations take place, 

 and death follows in from one to two days. 



Tetanine, C 13 H 30 N 2 O 4 , has been obtained from cultures of tetanus microbes, 

 from the amputated arm of a tetanus patient, and from the brain and nerve 

 tissues of persons who died from tetanus. It produces in animals the symp- 

 toms characteristic of tetanus, such as tonic and clonic convulsions. While 

 mice and rabbits are strongly affected by tetanine, dogs and horses seem to be 

 but slightly susceptible to its action. 



Mydatoxine, C 6 H 13 N0 2 , has been obtained from human internal organs which 

 were kept for four months at a temperature varying from 9 to + 5C. (16 

 to 41 F.). It is an alkaline syrup, which does not possess strong toxic 

 properties. 



Tyrotoxicon. The composition of this highly poisonous ptomaine has not 

 been established yet. It has been found in decomposing milk, in poisonous 

 cheese, ice-cream, and cream-puffs. 



Spasmotoxine. Composition yet unknown. Obtained from cultures of the 

 tetanus-germ on beef-broth. Produces violent convulsions. 



Leucomaines. The basic substances formed in the living tissues 

 by retrograde metamorphosis, during normal life, are known as leuco- 

 maines, in contradistinction to the ptomaines, or basic products of 

 putrefaction. To the group of leucomaines belong many substances 

 known long ago, such as creatine, creatinine, xanthine, guanine, and 

 others. Most of these bodies are non-poisonous, but some have been 

 discovered of late, possessing strong poisonous properties. The more 

 important leucomaines will be mentioned in the physiological part. 



Bacterial proteids or toxalbumins. Of even a more recent date 

 than the discovery of ptomaines is that of bacterial proteids, a group 

 of substances of which but little is known so far. They are formed 

 by the action of micro-organisms upon albuminous matter. The 

 isolation of these substances is extremely difficult, because they differ 

 but little in solubility or other physical and chemical properties from 

 the normal proteids ; and, moreover, they decompose so readily that 

 they may disappear during the process of analysis. Some of the 

 bacterial proteids show the Millon and bitiret reactions characteristic 

 of albuminous substances ; they are also precipitated by tannic acid, 

 picric acid, and mercuric chloride. 



Of bacterial proteids which have been isolated may be mentioned the 

 proteid poison of diphtheria. This substance has been obtained as a white, 

 amorphous powder from cultures of the Loeffler diphtheria bacillus. The 

 poisonous properties of this substance are very intense, as 0.2 milligramme 

 suffices to kill a rabbit. The symptoms produced by the poison, when injected 

 into susceptible animals, are identical with those produced by inoculation, 

 with the living bacillus. 



