ALKALOIDAL TOXINS. 3 



Armand Gautier that we are now so well informed 

 regarding these toxic principles. 



The labors of Armand Gautier were first pub- 

 lished in his Trait^ de Chimie Appliquee a la Phy- 

 siologie\ those of Selmi in the Actes de V Academic 

 de Bologne. 



At first sight, there appears to be a great difference 

 between these alkaloidal bases, the ptomaines and 

 leucomaines, and the albuminoid toxins proper. 

 The toxic bases of the first two groups are quite 

 definite chemical products which can be gener- 

 ally obtained quite pure, and frequently in crys- 

 talline form. The toxins proper, on the other 

 hand, are highly complex albuminoid substances 

 which greatly resemble the true diastases in all 

 their properties. 



Nevertheless, between the toxic alkaloids, 

 ptomaines and leucomaines, and the toxic albu- 

 minoids, or more properly toxins, there exists no 

 absolutely sharp line of demarcation, but there is 

 a gradual passage from the one to the other by 

 every intermediary grade, as a result of the break- 

 ing down of the albuminoid molecule. 



We shall see, moreover, as we proceed, that 

 these substances are formed under coexistent cir- 

 cumstances, and that they are, hence, found to- 

 gether, whether it be in virus or in snake venom. 



We will first consider the ptomaines, and then 

 the leucomaines. 



