34 BACTERIAJi POISONS. 



the formula C,„H,5N. This substance will be discussed in 

 a future chapter. 



From fresh brain substance they separated ammonia, 

 trimethylamine, and an undetermined base. These, how- 

 ever, are not to be regarded as products of putrefaction, 

 but as resulting from the action of the reagents upon the 

 brain substance. The trimethylamine probably arises from 

 the splitting up of lecithin, while the undetermined base 

 is most. likely choline, which also results from the breaking 

 up of the lecithin molecule. 



They also show that when Dragendoeff's method is 

 used basic substances can be obtained from fresh meat, and 

 these are shown to be produced by the action of the sul- 

 phuric acid on the flesh. 



To Brieqek, of Berlin, is due the credit of isolating 

 and determining the composition of a number of ptomaines. 

 From putrid flesh he obtained neuridine, CjETi^Nj, and 

 neurine, C5H13NO. The former is inert, while the latter is 

 poisonous. From decomposed fish he separated a poisonous 

 base, €2114(1^112)2, which is an isomeride of ethylenediamine, 

 muscarine, CjHjjNOj, and an inert substance, C^Hj^NOj, 

 gadinine. Rotten cheese yielded neuridine and trimethyla- 

 mine. Decomposed glue gave neuridine, dimethylamine, 

 and a muscarine-like base. In the cadaver, he has found 

 in dififerent stages of decomposition, choline, neuridine, tri- 

 methylamine, cadaverine, CjHi^lfj) putrescine, 0^11,2^25 ^^^ 

 saprine, CjHijNj. These are all inert. After fourteen 

 days of decomposition he found a poisonous substance, 

 mydaleine. From a cadaver which had been kept at 

 from — 9° to -f- 5° for four months, Briegbr obtaiuetl 

 mydine, CjH^NO, the poisonous substance mydatoxine, 

 CjHjjNOj, also the poison methyl-guanidine. From 

 poisonous mussel he separated mytilotoxine, CjHjjNOj. 

 From pure cultures of the typhoid bacillus of Koch and 

 Eberth, Brieger obtained a poison, typhotoxine, and, 

 from like cultures of the tetanus germ of Rosenbach, 

 tetanine. All of these bases will be discussed in detail in 

 a subsequent chapter. 



