250 BIOLOGY OF SPECIALIZED GROUPS 



bacteria, or other bacteria. It is not known whether or not 

 any ptomains are produced by intra-cellular bacterial processes. 

 The ptomains are closely related to the amino acids, and Wells 

 states that in all probability they are produced by secondary 

 changes (enzyme action) on these acids. Ptomains are them- 

 selves susceptible to the action of saprogenic and saprophilic 

 bacteria. They are noted to decrease in amount in some cul- 

 tures and this fact is accounted for by reason of their suscepti- 

 bility to the action of other bacteria. Ptomains are distinct 

 from toxins, as will be pointed out later. 



Ptomains only produce disease in the animal body when 

 they are introduced in the food products in which they have 

 been formed by the process of decomposition. They are also 

 produced in the body by the retention and the decomposition 

 of protein material, such as a portion of the placenta in the 

 uterus after parturition. The toxic condition resulting from 

 the absorption of ptomains is known as sapremia. 



There are many different ptomains which have been iso- 

 lated, divided into groups, and named. All the ptomains 

 have, very complex formulas. There is one group of ptomains 

 which is of special interest, and this is the cholin group. This 

 group will be briefly considered. The group includes cholin 

 and related substances as follows : 



Cholin CH 2 OH-CH 2 -N(CH 3 )3-OH. 



Neurin CH 2 =CH-N(CH 3 ) 3 -OH. 



Mucarin CH(OH) 2 -CH 2 -N(CH 3 )3-OH. 



Betain COOH- CH 2 -N(CH 6 ) 3 -OH. 



