The simple amines which occur in animal tissues are known as 

 " ptomaines " and " leucomaines." The ptomaines are all decom- 

 position products resulting from the putrefactive decay of proteins 

 caused by moulds or bacteria. Some of these are highly toxic, 

 producing the so-called "ptomaine-poisoning"; while others are 

 wholly innocuous. They are all simple amines. Putrescine, di- 

 amino butane, NH2 CH 2 CH2 CH 2 CH2 NH2, and cadaverine, 

 di-amino pentane, HN2 (CH 2 ) 5 NH 2 , are common non-toxic 

 ptomaines, resulting from the decay of meat. Neurine, tri- 

 methyl-ethylene ammonium hydroxide, (CH 3 ) 3 (C 2 H 3 ) -NOH, is a 

 violently poisonous ptomaine produced in the decay of fish. 

 Amines of similar structure to these are occasionally found in living 

 animal tissues. Such compounds are known as leucomaines, to 

 distinguish them from the ptomaines, which are found only in dead 

 material. 



Corresponding in structure and properties to these amines of 

 animal origin, there is a series of basic substances, found in many 

 plants, known as the plant amines. The following are common 

 examples : 



Trimethyl amine, (CH 3 ) 3 N, is a very volatile compound, found 

 in the flowers of several species of the Rose family, the leaves of 

 certain weeds, etc. When crushed, these tissues give off a very 

 fetid odor, which is due to this amine. 



Choline, muscarine, and betaine are plant amines which are 

 closely related to each other and to neurine (the toxic ptomaine) in 

 composition and structure, as shown in the following formulas: 



CH 2 CH 2 OH /CH 2 CHO 



/ 

 (CH 3 ) 3 =N< 



X)H N>H 



Choline Muscarine 



/CH 2 CO /CH=CH 2 



(CH 3 )3=N< / (CH 3 ) 3 EEN< 



X O X)H 



Betaine Neurine 



