620 CONSIDERATION OF CARBON COMPOUNDS. 



close relationship between these substances unites them into a natural 

 group, of which the following members may be mentioned: 



Methylamine, NH 2 .CH 3 , the simplest organic base that can be formed, has 

 been found in decomposing herring, pike, haddock, poisonous sausage, cultures 

 of comma bacillus on beef-broth, etc. It is an inflammable gas of strong ain- 

 moniacal odor. 



Dimethylamine, NH(CH 3 ) 2 , has been found in putrefying gelatin, decom- 

 posing yeast, poisonous sausage, etc. It is, like the former, a gas at ordinary 

 temperature. 



Trimethy famine, N(CH 3 ) 3 , has been shown for a long time to occur in some 

 animal and vegetable tissues. Its presence has been demonstrated in leaves 

 of chenopodium, in the blood of calves, in human urine, etc., but it also occurs 

 as a product of putrefaction in yeast, meat, blood, ergot, etc. It is a liquid, 

 possessing a strong, fish-like odor. Boiling-point 9 C. (48 F.). 



Ethylamine, NH 2 .C 2 H 5 ; DiSthylamine, NH.(C 2 H 5 ) 2 ; Triethylamim, N.(C 2 H 5 ) 3 ; 

 Propylamine, NH 2 .C 3 H 7 ; Neuridme, C 5 N 2 H 14 , are other non-poisonous volatile 

 ptomaines belonging to the amine group, while of the non-volatile amides 

 may be mentioned : My dine, C 8 H U NO ; Pyocyanine, C U H U NO 2 ; Betaine, C 5 H 13 

 N0 3 , etc. 



Poisonous ptomaines. While no strict line of demarcation can 

 be drawn between poisonous and non-poisonous substances, the fol- 

 lowing list of ptomaines embraces those which cause serious dis- 

 turbances when brought into the animal system : 



Isoamylamine, C 5 H 13 N, a colorless, strongly alkaline liquid, has been found 

 in putrefying yeast and in cod-liver oil . It is strongly poisonous, producing 

 rigor, convulsions, and death. 



Cadaverine, C 5 H U N 2 , occurs very frequently in decomposing animal tissues, 

 and seems to be a constant product of the growth of the comma bacillus, 

 irrespective of the soil on which it is cultivated. It is a syrupy liquid, pos- 

 sessing an exceedingly unpleasant odor, resembling that of coniine. The sub- 

 stances which have been described by various scientists as " animal coniine " 

 were most likely cadaverine. This base is not very poisonous, but is capable 

 of producing intense inflammation, necrosis, and suppuration in the absence of 

 bacteria. 



Neurine, C 5 H 13 NO, is a base which has been obtained by boiling protagon 

 with baryta, and has been formed by synthetical processes. It also occurs, 

 however, frequently in decomposing meat. It is exceedingly poisonous, even 

 in small doses. Atropine possesses a strong antagonistic action toward neurine, 

 and the injection of even a small quantity is sufficient to dispel the symptoms 

 of poisoning by neurine. 



Choline, C 5 H 15 NO 2 , has been found in animal tissues, in a number of plants 

 (hops, ergot, Indian hemp, white mustard, etc.), and in putrid matters. It is 

 much less poisonous than neurine. 



Mytilotoxine, C 6 H 15 NO 2 , is the poison found in poisonous mussels. It has a 

 strong paralysis-producing action, resembling curara in that respect. 



