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VITAL MAXIFESTATIOXS OF BACTERIA. 29

any means justity the assumption that a putrefying mixture must
have an acid reaction ; this is not the case, for the simultaneously
formed basic products are more than sufficient to neutralize the
acids, so that the resulting reaction is alkaline. We must further
consider that by no means are all of the substances named gen-
erated in every process of putrefaction. The number of ascer-
tained putrefactive products of the individual bacteria seldom
exceeds six, they being generally stinking gases (HjS, etc.),
ammonia, peptone, trimethylamine, and fatty acids; reaction
alkaline.
Ptomaines.

This name has been given to certain nitrogenous waste pro-
ducts of bacteria, closely resembling vegetable alkaloids, which are
formed in putrefying mixtures. As they were found repeatedly,
and at first chiefly in decaying corpses, Selmi called them pto-
maines {-zcTjaa, corpse). According to Brieger, the principal
authority on this subject, and upon whose exposition my remarks
are based, Panum was the first to isolate a chemical putrid poi-
son, a ptomaine. The alkaloid of Panum had an action upon the
animal body similar to that of snake-poison and curare. Then
Schmiedeberg and Bergmann obtained from putrefying yeast a
very minute quantity of a substance acting toxically on frogs
and dogs, which they called " sepsine." Zuelzer and Sonnen-
schein isolated a substance from macerated corpses which acted
like atropine, and Rorsch and Fasbender one showing properties
similar to digitaline.
Furthermore, there were gained from corpses an oil having the
odor of propylamine, a substance resembling coniin, " septicine,"
an amorphous base similar to nicotine, and aqueous extracts
with action like that of curare. Selmi obtained non-crystalline
products, which, in regard to their reaction and toxic properties,
might have been mistaken for morphine, coniine, atropine, or
delphinine. A strychnine-like base was also found in putrid
maize, and von Xencki*' obtained in chemically pure condition
a ptomaine isomeric with collidine.
In 1883, Brieger ^^ began his experiments with the basic pro-
ducts of putrefaction, which soon proved very successful. From