CHAPTEE XII. 



PRODUCTS OF THE METABOLISM OF ORGANISMS- 

 EXAMINATION OF DISINFECTANTS. 



The products of the vital activity of micro-organisms — The ptomaines 

 or cadaveric alkaloids : their characters and constitution — The 

 principal ptomaines and their properties — Brieger's method for 

 the isolation of ptomaines — The albumoses or toxalbumens : their 

 characters, etc. — The albumoses of diphtheria, anthrax, cholera, 

 typhoid, Staph, pyogenes aureus, etc. — ' Tuberculin ' and ' maUein ' — 

 Tests for albumoses — ' Intracellular ' poisons — Chromogenic bacteria 

 and colouring matters — The phosphorescent bacteria — Other products 

 of the metabolism of micro-organisms— Antiseptics, germicides and 

 disinfectants^The chemical agents used as disinfectants — The 

 bacteriological examination of disinfectants. 



As has already been stated, micro-organisms produce, as 

 the result of their metabolism, or vital processes, a number 

 of complicated bodies, known as ptomaines, cadaveric alka- 

 loids, leucomaines, albumoses, toxalbumens, toxins, etc. 



The pathogenic power of the bacteria which cause the 

 various diseases in man and animals has been shown to 

 result from the absorption into the body of these bodies, 

 which are the result of bacterial activity. 



The term ptomaines, or cadaveric alkaloids, was first 

 applied to those bodies formed during putrefaction, but is 

 now used for all alkaloids or bodies of a basic nature formed 

 by the activity of micro-organisms. Many of these bodies, 

 when introduced into the animal body, give rise to the 

 same symptoms as do the particular organisms themselves ; 



