Although many of the monamins and diamins are physiologically inactive, and although many of the poisonous ones are the result of the pathogenic bacteria of the specific infectious diseases, there are a number which are occasionally produced by other than pathogenic bacteria. Brieger has shown that diamins are absent from perfectly normal feces, but in disordered metabolism their formation is of frequent occurrence. The ptomaines cannot be said to originate in the bacterial cell, are not direct metabolic products of the bacterial cytoplasm, but are looked upon as secondary cleavage products, the result of bacterial activity upon ingested proteid. The following ptomaines and leucomaines are occasionally formed in the body, are toxic, and are to be classed as factors of autointoxication conforming with our accepted definition. There is no proof that mydatoxin and tetanin are autogenous, and they will not be described. Muscarin is briefly mentioned on account of its probable exist ence associated with cholin, and the fact that it occasionally appears in the decomposition of ordinary food stuffs.

It is of great clinical importance to note that the toxicity of these substances increases with their oxygenation, but a perfectly free supply of oxygen renders them harmless.

Isoamylamin

Isoamylamin, C5 H13 N, occurs in cod-liver oil and putrefying yeast, and may be produced from leucin by heating. It is actively poisonous, producing spastic contractions, general convulsions and death. The lethal dose is about 0.040 g. per K.

Dihydrolutidin

Dihydrolutidin, C7 H11 N, is found in decomposing oils, and produces diminished sensibility, tremblings, profound depression alternating with periods of extreme excitement, paralysis of the posterior limbs and death.

Hydrocollidin

Hydrocollidin, C8 H13 N, with its isomers, is frequently found in the bacterial decomposition of albuminoid substances, and is often accompanied by the base C17H38N4; 0.0017 g. injected under the skin of a bird causes unsteadiness of gait, paralysis of the extremities and death. Larger doses cause vomiting and staggering, tetanic convulsions, and complete paralysis.

Ethylidenediamin

Ethylidenediamin, C2 H8 N2, has been found by Kulneff in the liquids of the stomach in gastriectasis and also associated with cholin, trimethylamin and gadinin and in cultures of proteus vulgaris. Pohl has shown that this base in dose of 0.66 g. per K. subcutaneously in a rabbit produced parenchymatous nephritis, and a larger dose clonic convulsions, paralysis of the extremities and death. In mice and guinea pigs it occasioned exophthalmos, dilitation of the pupils, violent dyspnea, blenorrhea of the conjunctiva, and, finally, stoppage of the heart in diastole.

Putrescin

Putrescin, C4 H12 N2, is intimately associated and usually found with cadaverin, and is obtained from putrefying meat and pancreas, the bacteria of human feces, and from herring, pickerel and haddock. It is a water-clear thin liquid which fumes in the air and has a peculiar and characteristic odor which is lost upon exposure to the air, from which it extracts carbonic acid. The tetra-methyl derivative of putrescin is enormously poisonous, the symptoms resembling those of neurin and muscarin - salivation, dyspnea, myosis, paralysis of the muscles of the trunk and limbs, increased intestinal peristalsis, relaxation of the sphincters, dribbling of urine and clonic convulsions.