350 THE PROLIFERATION OF CANCER 



that certain putrefactive bacteria in decomposing dead 

 organic structures produce ptomaines and leucomaines. 

 These substances are in the nature of alkaloids. The 

 following are common ones: 



Choline .... C 5 H 15 NO 2 . 



Cadaverine . . . C 5 H 14 N 2 . 



Neurine .... C 5 H 13 NO. 



Putrescine . . . C 4 H 12 N. 



Choline will, like other alkaloids, excite amceboid 

 movements in leucocytes and lymphocytes, and so will 

 cadaverine. In fact choline is just as effective as 

 atropine in this respect. The best strength of choline 

 to employ to excite amceboid movements in leucocytes 

 and lymphocytes is one in which 10 cc. of jelly con- 

 tains 0.01 gramme of the alkaloid in addition to the 

 10 units of alkali. Choline, however, is not very poison- 

 ous to leucocytes, and even 0.04 gramme will not kill 

 them. Cadaverine also excites leucocytes, and 10 cc. 

 of a jelly containing 1 cc. of a 1-per-cent solution of 

 it is suitable for this purpose if 10 units of alkali are 

 also present, the jelly-film being examined, of course, 

 at the room temperature. 



It may be remembered that it was through the 

 accidental putrefaction of the extract of suprarenal 

 gland that we were enabled to induce divisions with 

 it by itself for the first time, and w r e now know that 

 the reason for this was that the putrefaction produced 

 the alkaloids choline and cadaverine in the solution 

 of the extract, and that they, like atropine, greatly 

 augment the action of auxetics in inducing cell-division. 



