736 The Ptomaines and the Snake Poisons. [December, 
detected, but isolated. One of these, first obtained and 
described by Dr. G. Pouchet in 1880, is highly oxidisable, 
possessing great reducing powers, forming well-crystallised 
double salts with the chlorides of gold and platinum, and if 
administered to animals killing them with tetanic symptoms. 
Along with this compound is found another body, nitro- 
genous, but not crystalline, not basic in its characters, and, 
like the former, highly poisonous. These discoveries throw 
a strong light upon the danger of a retention of the excre- 
tions in the body. The poisonous principles resulting from 
the waste of tissue require to be eliminated as rapidly as 
possible. If such removal is delayed or obstructed their 
accumulation must produce the most serious results, as we 
see in cases where, e.g., the secretion of urine is suppressed. 
It has sometimes been noticed that the flesh of animals 
which have died immediately after unusual exertion, or 
after prolonged torture, is unwholesome, or even poisonous. 
This has been observed in the case of over-driven cattle, and 
of a baited bull. The most signal instance — the exaCt par- 
ticulars of which we are unable to remember — is that of a 
roebuck which had been caught in a snare, and which had 
evidently died after very prolonged efforts to escape. All 
the persons who partook of its flesh became seriously ill, 
and, as far as we recolleCt, two of them died in consequence. 
In view of the researches of Dr. Gautier and Prof. Selmi 
these faCts become perfectly intelligible. Prolonged and 
unusual exertion involves an abnormally great waste of 
time, and consequently an excessive production of ptomaines. 
If, then, the animal is killed and eaten before the elimination 
of the poisonous matter can have been effected, the persons 
who consume it are, as a matter of course, injuriously 
affeCted to a greater or less degree. The possible existence 
of these poisons in animal tissues may very probably be 
employed by the “ dietetic reformers ” as an argument in 
favour of vegetarianism. It must be remembered, however, 
that if we are to eat no substances which may contain traces 
of poisons, we shall probably have to extend our reforms so 
far as to dispense with food altogether. 
But though the existence of the ptomaines furnishes no 
valid reason for the disuse, in food, of the muscular flesh of 
animals killed rapidly, when in a normal condition, the case 
is very different as regards the blood and the glands. Here, 
according to Dr. Gautier, we may find them in relatively 
larger quantities. 
Dr. Gautier has sought for poisons of the ptomaine class 
in that part of the vegetable kingdom which makes the 
