AbmS'  i884rm' }  Putrefaction  A Ikaloids.  159 
contained  in  the  endocarp  and  perisperm  of  the  grain.  The  experi- 
ments of  Hammersten  have  also  proved  that  the  starches  of  maize,  rye, 
and  oats  are  more  easily  converted  into  glucose  by  diastatic  action  than 
the  starches  of  potatoes,  peas,  and  wheat  (comp.  Bell's  recent  researches, 
Jour.  Chem.  Soc,  1883,  p.  1160).  In  this  connection  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  the  inhabitants  of  Lombardy  suffer  from  an  epidemic  caused  by 
maize.  A  form  of  mildew  has  been  observed  on  maize,  and  this  has  the 
power  of  peptonizing  albumins,  with  formation  of  putrefaction  alkaloids. 
Secondly.  In  the  presence  of  a  ferment  the  glucose  would  further 
decompose  into  butyric  and  lactic  acids. 
The  author  further  observed  that  rye  grain,  even  if  not  attacked  by 
the  claviceps,  yet  when  merely  exposed  to  damp,  evolved  trimethyla- 
mine  when  heated  with  alkalis,  and  it  is  well  known  that  albumins  at 
the  moment  of  putrefaction  evolve  ammonia  or  amines  under  the  action 
of  alkalis. 
Thirdly.  One  of  the  most  important  phenomena  of  the  change  of  the 
albumin  of  meal  is  the  formation  of  peptones;  it  has  also  been  noticed 
that  lactic  acid  is  a  better  test  for  peptonization  than  other  acids,  as 
phosphoric,  acetic,  oxalic,  or  tartaric.  The  author  has  frequently 
observed  the  formation  of  peptone  from  the  albumin  of  meal,  caused 
by  the  action  of  Penicillium  glaucum  and  the  fungus  of  Claviceps  pur- 
purea, the  latter  of  which  produces  the  most  marked  effects. 
Fourthly.  The  author  exposed  pure  and  tainted  rye  meal  to  a  damp 
atmosphere,  and  found  that  the  latter  more  readily  entered  into  decom- 
position, with  formation  of  the  putrefaction  alkaloids  or  ptomaines. 
Further  large  quantities  of  pure  and  tainted  meal  were  allowed  to  rot, 
and  the  putrefying  mass  examined  from  time  to  time  by  Stas-Otto's 
process.  From  alkaline  and  from  acid  etherial  extracts  of  the  mass, 
substances  were  obtained  of  various  degrees  of  consistence  and  of 
various  odors.  These  products  gave  all  the  general  reactions  for 
alkaloids,  and  differed  from  one  another  towards  precipitants  and  color 
reagents  according  as  they  had  been  obtained  at  various  stages  of  the 
decomposition.  By  shaking  the  alkali  solution  with  chloroform,  ben- 
zene, and  amyl  alcohol,  an  alkaloid  was  obtained,  which  gave  precipi- 
tates with  potassio-mercuric  iodide,  phosphomolybdic  and  tungstic 
acids,  potassio-bismuth  and  cadmium  iodides,  platinum  and  gold 
chlorides,  etc.  It  also  gave  a  beautiful  violet  coloration  with  Frohde's 
reagent  (sulphuric  acid  and  sodium  molybdate),  resembling  that  pro- 
duced by  morphine;  the  absorption-spectra,  however,  of  the  two  alka- 
