DIGESTION 43 



amine or as it has been called histamine. The reaction 

 occurring follows. 



This substance besides possessing an action upon 

 the nervous system is capable of producing symptoms 

 identical with those of anaphylactic shock. Its pres- 

 ence in the alimentary canal has also been demon- 

 strated. 



The diamines, cadaverine and putrescine, arise in 

 the alimentary through the action of bacteria. Cadav- 

 erine is produced in the following manner, lysine serv- 

 ing as the mother substance. Lysine, which has the 

 following formula: 



CH a .CH a .CH a .CH a .CH.COOH 

 NH a NH a 



by cleavage of carbon dioxide yields cadaverine which 

 has the structure below 



