574 VITAL ACTIONS OF THE LOWER FUNGI. 



tion of specific poisons by the bacteria which are the 

 cause of the disease, and as the result of this knowledge, 

 we may entertain the hope that important indications for 

 a rational treatment of these diseases may result from 

 the discovery of the specific ptomaines. 



A number of important questions with regard to this 

 matter still require solution. Thus it would evidently be 

 of great importance to learn whether the putrefactive 

 alkaloids are formed in the same quantity and with the 

 same poisonous qualities by different bacteria in the 

 same material, and conversely by the same bacteria but 

 under varying composition of the putrefying material and 

 influence of under varying external conditions. As regards the latter 

 materials on point, a larger amount of lecithin and cholin may, for 

 of 6 tomaines 1 exam P^ e ? favour the formation of the poisonous neurin ; 

 and as regards the various species of bacteria which set 

 up putrefaction, researches, which are as yet incomplete, 

 but which are being carried out in the author's laboratory 

 by Henrigan, have already shown that certain anaerobes 

 can, in the course of putrefaction without the presence 

 of oxygen, furnish poisonous products much more quickly 

 and energetically than any of the other putrefactive 

 fungi which have been as yet tested. 



Varying re- It seems in fact as if, as in the case of the higher 



sapropnytic 6 f un gi> the production of poisonous substances by different 



bacteria to the ki n( Jg of bacteria can show very marked qualitative and 



ptomaines. quantitative differences, so that an early and detailed 



knowledge of their vital actions is the more desirable in 



the case of the individual species of bacteria. 



6. Chemical Ferments. 



Ferments. jjy "ferments" or "enzymes "we understand corn- 



Definition. J -* 



plex organic materials which readily undergo alteration, 



and have the power, within certain limits of tempera- 

 ture, of transforming relatively large quantities of other 

 organic materials in such a way that bodies arise with, 

 on the whole, less heat-producing power than the mate- 

 rials from which they were formed. 



