480 GASTRO-INTESTINAL "AUTOINTOXICATION" 

 C. PRODUCTS OF THE DECOMPOSITION OF FATS 



These differ but little in nature from the products of carbo- 

 hydrate fermentation, the large fatty acid molecules being 

 broken down to smaller ones. In infants these fatty acids have 

 been believed to be a cause of acid intoxication and acetonuria, 1 

 but probably they are seldom, if ever, of pathological impor- 

 tance. 



It is quite otherwise with the products of decomposition of leci- 

 thin? From its molecule is split off the ptomai'n cholin, 



(CH 3 ) 3 = N CH 2 CH 2 OH, 

 OH 



which is easily oxidized into a highly poisonous compound, 

 isomeric with muscarin, or by losing a molecule of water it 

 forms neurin, 



(CH 3 ) 3 = N-CH = CH 2 , 



I > 



OH 



which is also very poisonous (discussed under " Ptomai'ns," 

 Chap. iv). It has been demonstrated by Nesbitt 3 that in the 

 contents of obstructed intestines of dogs that have been fed 

 lecithin-rich food (eggs) both cholin and neurin may be found 

 free, and Kutscher and Lohmann 4 have found neurin in human 

 urine. It seems possible that some of the toxic effects observed 

 after eating excessively of such foods as calves 7 brains, or eggs, 

 may depend upon intoxication with the products of lecithin 

 decomposition. 



RESULTS OF GASTRO-INTESTINAL INTOXICATION 



As we have seen from the above, but few of the known 

 products of gastro-intestinal putrefaction are toxic to any con- 

 siderable degree, and these are probably produced in too small 

 quantities to cause any appreciable effect, especially in view of 

 the detoxicating and eliminatory powers of the liver, kidney, 

 and other organs. And yet we have abundant clinical evidence 

 that excessive intestinal putrefaction or retention of the intesti- 

 nal contents cause marked disturbance in health. The slight 

 malaise, headache, and lassitude observed as the result of simple 

 constipation may possibly be adequately accounted for by 



1 Meyer and Langstein, Jahrb. f. Kinderheilk., 1906 (63), 30. 



2 Literature given by Halliburton, Ergebnisse der Physiol., 1904 (4), 24. 



? Jour. Exp. Med., 1899 (4), 1 ; see also Hoesslin, Hofmeister's Beitr., 1906 

 (8), 27. 



4 Zeit. physiol. Chem., 1906 (48), 1. 



