234 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



continued to exist, and even at the present time it is the 

 cause of no little misunderstanding. Tlius, Maeino-Zuco 

 (1885), in his excellent researches on the genesis of pto- 

 maines, applies tlie term neurine, following Baeybr's pre- 

 cedent, to the oxyethyl base, C5H,5N02, which is really 

 choline, according to the proper nomenclature. 



We have gone somewhat at this point in detail into the 

 history and the proper use of the terms neurine and choline 

 because of the confusion which is sure to arise if tlie dis- 

 tinction is not thoroughly borne in mind. The name 

 neurine, theu, should be used only to denote the vinyl base 

 C5II13NO. It is trimethyl-vinyl-ammonium hydrate. Ou 

 the other hand, choline is applied to the oxyethyl base 

 C5Hj5N02, which is trimethyl-oxyethyl-ammonium hydrate. 



Neurine has been obtained lay Beiegee (1883) in the 

 putrefaction of liorse, beef, and human flesh for five to six 

 days in summer. It also occurs in the commercial, so-called 

 " neurine," together with choline (Beiegee, I., 34). Lieb- 

 EEICH obtained it in the decomposition of protagon by 

 baryta. And Beiegee (I., 60) also has isolated it along 

 with choline from fresh human brains, by boiling with 

 l^aryta ; but has not obtained it by digesting the brains on 

 the water-bath with two per cent, hydrochloric acid. It 

 has been found in putrid, and as result of this change 

 poisonous, mushrooms (Berlixeeblau, 1888). 



The genesis of neurine is still rather obscure, and it is 

 to be hoped that future investigations may shed more light 

 upon the mysterious production of this highly poisonous 

 base. Its occurrence in the brain together with choline 

 would seem to indicate that it is either derived from 

 choline by the removal of water, or that it exists together 

 with choline, partly replacing the latter in the molecule of 

 protagon (lecithin), according to the hypothesis put for- 

 ward by LiPPMANN (page 241). The question of its 

 derivation from choline by withdrawal of a molecule of 

 water has already been subjected to an interesting experi- 

 mental discussion. Ch. Geam attempted to explain the 

 production of neurine and other muscarine-like ptomaines 

 as due to the dehydrating action of the acids employed iu 



