Ptomaines And Auto-intoxication. Part 2

Cadaverin

Cadaverin, C₅ H₁₄ N₂, is isomeric with saprin and neuridin, and is very commonly met with in decomposing animal tissues. It forms as early as the third day of putrefaction, preceding putrescin in this process. Since twelve isomers of this base are possible it is readily seen that more than one of them may be at work in a given case. It is produced by the decomposition of di-amido-caproic acid, and occurs in diarrheas, in putrefying fish and eggs. It can set up suppurative processes without the presence of bacteria, and also causes necrosis of the intestinal mucous membrane. Cadaverin is identical with the pentamethylenediamin of Ladenberg and is particularly active in intestinal obstruction.

Neuridin

Neuridin, C₅ H₁₄ N₂, is one of the most common products of putrefaction, ^!is not poisonous in a pure state, but when combined with other ptomaines resembles peptotoxin. It is almost invariably accompanied by cholin, occurs in the decomposition of gelatine, and is found in putrefying beef, cheese, haddock and perch.

Methyl Guanidin

Methyl Guanidin, C₂ H₇ N₃, is the substance resulting from the oxidation of creatin and creatinin and its genesis illustrates how a comparatively non-poisonous substance may be readily changed into a violent poison by bacterial action. It may be prepared synthetically from creatin by oxidation, may be converted into methyl urea, and this in turn into ammonia and methylamine. Brieger injected 0.2 g. into a guinea pig and observed fibrillary twitchings, rapid respiration, extreme pupillary dilitation of the pupils, paralysis of the extremities, dyspnea and death in clonic convulsions. The heart is found to be arrested in diastole, the intestines filled with fluid, the bladder contracted, and the renal cortex hyperemic but the papillae pale and anemic.

Cholin

is one of the most important factors in auto-intoxication on account of its important relation to nervous disorders. It may be extracted from the brain by normal salt solution, is found in the bile, yolks of eggs, blood, lecithin, commercial muscarin sulphate, human placenta, and from various drugs, among others belladonna, ipecac and agaricus muscaris. Its commonest source is lecithin and its formation is illustrated by the following reaction:

It is probable that it exists in the tissues in exceedingly minute amount as the result of cell metabolism, but in intestinal disorders its amount is increased and it may appear in the urine. In dilute watery solutions it may be transformed into the much more toxic neurin. The addition of platinum chloride to solutions of cholin produces characteristic octahedral crystals of the double salt cholin-platino-chloride.

0.59 g. of cholin cause almost instantaneous death in a cat and 0.1 g. of the chloride in a rabbit of one K. weight.

The symptoms produced in experimental poisoning are dilitation of the peripheral blood vessels, lowering of blood pressure, salivation, spastic contractions and stoppage of the heart in diastole.

Under the action of anaerobic bacteria, cholin is broken up into methylamin, carbon dioxid, and methane.