THE CHEMISTRY OF THE ANIMAL BODY. 983 



foul cheese, the carbohydrates are slowly converted into a mass of calcium 

 lactate. On further standing the lactic acid is resolved into butyric acid : 

 2CH 3 CHOHCOOH - C 3 H 7 COOH + 4H + CO 2 . 



Lactic acid. 



Calcium salts are found to putrefy more readily than others, and the carbon- 

 ate is added above to neutralize any acids formed in the putrefactive process 

 which might inhibit the action of the spores. This same fermentation takes 

 place in the intestinal tract. 



Iso-butyl Alcohol, (CH 3 ) 2 : CH.CH 2 OH. This is found in fusel oil. 

 Iso-butyric Acid, (CH 3 ) 2 : CH.COOH. This is a product of proteid putrefaction 

 and is found in the feces. 



PENTYL COMPOUNDS. 



Iso-pentyl Alcohol, or Amyl Alcohol, (CH 3 ) 2 CHCH 2 CH 2 OH. This is the principal 

 constituent of fusel oil, producing the after-effects of distilled-liquor intoxication. The 

 poisonous dose in the dog per kilogram for the different alcohols has been found to be for 

 ethyl alcohol 5-6 grams, for propyl alcohol 3 grams, for butyl alcohol 1.7 grams, for amyl 

 alcohol 1.5 grams 1 (see p. 979). 



Iso-pentoic or Iso-valerianic Acid, (CH 3 ) 2 CHCH 2 COOH. This is found 

 in cheese, in the sweat of the foot, likewise in the urine in small-pox, in typhus, 

 and in acute atrophy of the liver. It is a product of proteid putrefaction, and 

 has a most unpleasant odor. 



ALCOHOLS CONTAINING MORE THAN FIVE CARBON ATOMS. 



Of these, cetyl alcohol, C 16 H 35 OH, is found combined with palmitic acid in spermaceti ; 

 cerotyl alcohol, C 2 7H 55 (OH), is found as an ester in Chinese wax; and melicyl alcohol, 

 C 30 H 61 OH, is combined with palmitic acid in beeswax. 



ACIDS CONTAINING MORE THAN FlVE CARBON ATOMS. 



Caproic Acid, C 5 H n COOH. This is formed from the putrefaction of 

 proteid, being found in cheese and in feces ; it may likewise be detected in the 

 sweat. United with glycerin it occurs in butter-fat. 



Iso-butyl Amido-acetic Acid, or Leucin, (CH 3 ) 2 : CH.CH 2 .CHNH 2 . 

 COOH. This substance is a constant product of proteid putrefaction, is there- 

 fore found in cheese, and may likewise be obtained by boiling proteid or gelatin 

 with sulphuric acid or with alkali. When fed it is converted into urea. When 

 fed to birds the tissues decompose it with elimination of ammonia, which latter 

 may be converted into uric acid by the liver. 2 It is said to occur in pancreatic 

 juice. According to Kiihne it is produced in trypsin proteolysis to the extent 

 of 9.1 per cent, of the proteid used. Since this weakly alkaline medium in 

 pancreatic digestion is especially favorable to bacterial activity, Kiihne added 

 antiseptic salicylate of sodium and still found leucin (and tyrosin). The same 

 results are obtained with thymol. It is generally accepted that leucin (and 

 tyrosin) are normal products of tryptic digestion. In certain diseases of the liver 



1 Dujardin-Beaumetz et Audige : Comptes rendus, vol 81, p. 19. 



2 Minkowski : Archiv fur exper. Pathologic und Pharmakologie, 1886, Bd. 21, p. 85. 



