14 TOXINS AND ANTITOXINS. 



hydrine, and treating the resulting hydrochloride 

 with silver oxide. Betaine, C5H11NO2, is foiind in 

 beets ; it was discovered by Scheibler. Neurine is, 

 chemically, trimethylvinylammonium hydrate. 



4. Undetermined Leucomaines. — Among these 

 bases several are important in more than one 

 respect. For instance spermine, which is found in 

 the sperm, is a strong base possessing a powerfully 

 dynamic and tonic action on the nerves. It acts 

 as an oxidizer. Spermine was first obtained by 

 Schreiner * from the sperm of mammifers in which 

 it occurs as a phosphate. It hks the formula 

 C5H14N2. It was physiologically studied by Poehl, 

 Tarchanoff, Weljaminoff, and Joffroy.f Plasmaine, 

 a toxic base found in the blood and discovered 

 by R. Wurtz.t has the formula C5H1SN5; prota- 

 mine, from fish milt, was discovered by Micocher.§ 



* Liebig's Ann. der Chemie, cxciv, p. 68. 

 t Journ. Soc. Phys. Chim. Russe, 1893, No. 2; and Bull. Soc. 

 Chim. (3), XII, p. 243. 



J Leucomaines du. Sang Normal, These, Paris, 1889. 



§ Joh reab. de Thierchen, 1874, p. 341 ; Picard, Ibid., p. 355. 



