226 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



taken up with water. From this aqueous solution, after 

 removal of picric acid, methyl-guanidine is precipitated by 

 gold chloride, whereas creatinine remains in solution. 



This ptomaine is identical with the synthetic methyl- 

 guanidine (methyluramine) which can be readily obtained 

 by boiling a creatine solution with mercuric oxide or with 

 lead dioxide and dilute sulphuric acid (Dessaignes). The 

 parent substance of methyl-guanidine as it occurs in putre- 

 faction is undoubtedly the creatine which exists preformed 

 in the muscular tissue. If such is the case, the bacteria 

 engaged in its production must be considered as possessing 

 an oxidizing action, since this base is prepared synthetically 

 from creatine by oxidation. That creatine does not offer 

 much resistance to the action of bacteria is shown in the 

 fact that Friedlander's pneumonia coccus, which pos- 

 sesses but small chemical powers, is capable of slowly but 

 steadily decomposing creatine, yielding as one of the pro- 

 ducts acetic acid. Strecker and Erlenmeybr, as well 

 as Baumanjst, have shown that creatine, although a sub- 

 stituted guanidine, is not poisonous, but is readily converted 

 into creatinine, which is a relatively toxic substance. On 

 the other hand, guanidine and methyl-guanidine are quite 

 violent poisons. This is, therefore, another instance in 

 which a toxic substance is formed by the action of bacteria 

 from a previously non-poisonous base (see page 244). 

 AccordiDg to Lossen, guanidine is formed, though in 

 small quantity, in tlie oxidation of albumin. 



The formulae of these closely related substances are here 

 given for comparison : 



Creatine, NH = C(N(CH3).CH,CaH 



/N(CH3).CH, 

 Creatinine, NH = C\^tt l^f) 



/N(CH3).CH2 

 Metiiyl-hydantoine, O^C\^tt A^^ 



Methyl-guanidine, NH = C<;^JJ 



NH.CH3 



