THE PTOMAINES AND SOLUBLE FERMENTS 313 



rather later. It is a volatile liquid, with a sperma- 

 tic odour, and boils at 135 C. Baumann and 

 Udranszky proved that this ptomaine has the con- 

 stitutional formula of tetramethylenediamine, NH 2 

 (CH 2 ) 4 NH 2 . Both cadaverine and putrescine have 

 been isolated from the fseces and urine in cases of 

 cystinuria. 2 



Mydaleine. This base was isolated (along with 

 cadaverine and putrescine) by Brieger during the 

 putrefaction of albuminous substances. It is a 

 poisonous ptomaine which causes paralysis and 

 death. Mydaleine is believed to be a diamine, 

 but it has not been thoroughly examined. 



Brieger has also isolated two ptomaines from pure 

 cultivations of the tetanus bacillus, which are pro- 

 bably diamines. One is called spasmotoxine, and 

 produces tonic and clonic convulsions, while the 

 other (which has not been named) causes tetanus, 

 accompanied with a flow of saliva and tears. 



Tyrotoodcon (C 6 H 5 N 2 ). In 1886, Vaughan isolated 

 this ptomaine from cheese, milk, and ice-cream 

 which had undergone putrefaction. Tyrotoxicon 

 produces nausea, diarrhoea, and acute poisoning, and 

 is said to be identical with diazobenzene. 



Phlogosin (formula unknown) is a ptomaine which 

 was obtained by Leber in 1888 from pure cultiva- 

 tions of Staphylococcus aureus. It is probably a 

 diamine. 



Methylguanidine C 2 H 7 N 3 or NH=C 



\NH 2 



1 See also Dr. Lauder Brun ton's Disorders of Digestion, p. 281. 



