PTOMAINES 119 



The residue is then taken up in a few drops of distilled 

 ■water. The liquid which contains the tyrotoxicon, if 

 present, is tested as follows : A little of the liquid is poured 

 upon a porcelain tile with a few drops of a freshly-prepared 

 mixture of equal parts of phenol and pure sulphuric acid, 

 free from nitrous compounds. In the presence of tyro- 

 toxicon a coloration varying from yellow to orange-red, 

 and ultimately violet, will be obtained. The remainder 

 of the liquid should be tested by placing upon the 

 tongue of a suitable animal, and the physiological effects 

 observed. 



ffiytilotoxin. — The composition of this ptomaine is un- 

 known. It was obtained by Brieger from poisonous 

 mussels. The toxic effects produced are similar to that of 

 curare (arrow-poison). 



Tjrpliotoxin, C7H17NO2. — This was obtained by Brieger 

 from broth cultures of the typhoid bacillus which had been 

 kept for a week or more at a temperature of 37 '5° C. On 

 inoculation of minute doses of this base into mice and 

 guinea-pigs, salivation, rapid respiration, diarrhoea, and 

 death, is produced in about twenty-four hours. 



Tetanin, Ci3HgoN204. — This has been obtained from cul- 

 tures of the tetanus bacillus by Kitasato and Weyl. This 

 base was also obtained by Brieger from an amputated arm 

 of a patient with tetanus. It is a strongly-alkaline deep- 

 yellow liquid base, permanent in alkaline solution, but 

 quickly decomposes in presence of acids. When injected 

 into guinea-pigs or mice, tetanin first causes the animal to 

 fall into a lethargic condition, followed by increased rapidity 

 of respiration and tetanic convulsions. 



Cholera Ptomaines. — Brieger isolated two toxins from 

 cultures of this organism. One induces cramps and mus- 

 cular tremors in all small animals, the other diarrhoea and 

 symptoms of collapse. 



