THE CHEMISTRY OF THE ANIMAL BODY. 543 



called toxines. These bodies are diamines of the olefmes, and have been 

 investigated especially by Brieger. 1 



Tetramethylene-diamin, or Putrescin, H 2 N.CH 2 .CH 2 .CH,.CH, Nil,.— This com- 

 pound is found in putrefying proteid, and has been detected in the urine and feces in 

 cystitis. 



Pentamethylene-diamin, or Cadaverin, H,N.C 5 TI 10 .NH 2 .— This is found with 

 putrescine wherever produced. They are both found in cultivations of Koch's cholera bacil- 

 lus and in cholera feces. In cystitis they are a result of special infection of the intestinal 

 tract, are principally excreted in the feces, but are partially absorbed, and prevent, perhaps 

 through chemical union, the burning of cystein normally produced. 2 Diamines are not 

 normally present in the urine. 



Neuridin. and Saprin. — These are isomers of cadaverin and are produced by the same 

 putrefactive processes. 



Cholin. — This is trimethyl oxyethyl ammonium hydroxide, 



(CH 3 )3-N< CH2CHOH 



and has its source in lecithin decomposition, and putrefaction (see p. 559). Cholin has 

 been found in the cerebrospinal fluid in cases of general paralysis in the insane, and is 

 regarded as the effective poison. 3 



Muscarin, or Oxycholin. — This is a violent heart-poison, and may be obtained by 

 treating cholin with nitric acid. 



Neurin. — This is trimethyl-vinyl ammonium hydroxide, (CH 3 ) 3 ~ N < p jj _ q jj 



and is derived from lecithin. It may be considered as derived from cholin, with the 

 elimination of a molecule of water, and it has been shown that bacteria make this conver- 

 sion. It is a powerful poison. After feeding lecithin and occluding the intestinal canal, 

 cholin and neurit] have been found within the intestinal contents. 4 



Derivatives of Diatomic Alcohols. 



Taurin, or Amido-ethyl Sulphonic Acid, H 2 N.CH 2 .CH 2 .S0 3 H.— This 

 lias been detected in muscle, 5 in the spleen, and in the suprarenal capsules. 

 It is likewise a usual constituent of the human bile in combination with 

 cholic acid, the salt present being known as sodium tauroeholate. Taurin 

 is of proteid origin as is shown by its nitrogen and sulphur content. Little 

 is known regarding its fate in the body, except as is indicated through the 

 behavior of its sulphur atom (see p. 507). 



The Biliary Salts. — Taurin and glycocoll are found in the bile of cattle in 

 combination with cholic acid (C^H^O^. In human bile, according to Lassar- 

 Cohn," there is more fellic acid (C^H^OJ present than cholic, and there is 

 likewise present some choleic acid, (C^H^C^). These acids arc of similar chemi- 

 cal structure, though what the structure is, is unknown. Still other acids 

 occur in the bile of pigs, geese, etc. Taurin and glycocoll form compounds 

 with these acids, the sodium salts of which usually make up the major part of 



1 Abstract, Jahresbcricht iiber I'hierchemie, 1885. S. 101. 



* Baum.inn und Udranszky : Zeitschrift fur phygiologische Chemie, 1889, Bd. 13,8. 562, and 

 1891, Bd. 15, 8. 77. 



3 Mott and Halliburton : Journal of Physiology, 1899, vol. xxiv. p. ix. 



* Nesbitt, B. : American Journal of Physiology, 1899, vol. ii. p. viii. 



5 Keed, Kunkenberg, and Wagner: Zeitschrift fiir Biologic, 1885, Bd. 21, B. 30. 



6 Z> itschrift fiir physiologische Chemie, 1894, Bd. 19, S. 570. 



