Other Substances acting as Auto-toxins

Butyric Acid

Butyric Acid, C₄H₈0₂, is very commonly produced in gastro-intestinal fermentation, and is most commonly formed by the fermentation of cane sugar. It mixes with water in all proportions and its genesis is seen in the following symbols:

This acid has a distinctly depressant effect on the central nervous system. Together with acetic and lactic acids its presence indicates gastric stagnation, destruction of glandular elements by malignant or other disease, putrefaction or fermentation.

On account of its depressant effect on the sensorium, butyric acid has been used as a hypnotic, but it has been found that it is capable of causing nephritis which prohibits its general use. The butyric acid occurring in diabetes is the B-oxy-butyric acid, which, by the loss of one molecule of water, becomes crotonic acid, also found in the urine and body fluids in this disease.

Hydrogen Sulphid

Hydrogen Sulphid, H₂S, is formed whenever there is residual nascent hydrogen after combination with all available oxygen, and from the splitting of the proteid molecule by bacteria. It is occasionally formed in the stomach, (11) and is over one hundred times as diffusible as oxygen. When inhaled it produces nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, tracheal irritation, extreme drowsiness and severe headache. When introduced into the rectum of a dog it is found that toxic symptoms occur within one minute.

In a patient suffering with acute intestinal catarrh, epigastric oppression and repeated attacks of vertigo, Senator found a gas in the urine which blackened lead acetate, and to this condition the name hydrothionuria has been given. Similar conditions are frequently seen in those who work in sewers and in the bilge of fishing vessels where large amounts of this gas are set free by decomposition. Kunkel, in the gases produced by the artificial digestion of fibrin by pancreatic juice, found nearly two per cent., but it is probably never formed in a state of perfect digestion. With hydrogen sulphid there frequently exists the sulphur alcohol.

Methyl Mercaptan

Methyl Mercaptan, C₂H₅S, whose physiological properties are as yet uninvestigated and which is undoubtedly a very important cause of many of the obscure symptoms of digestive diseases, exists associated with hydrogen sulphid and is formed in excessive carbohydrate diet and in gastrectasis.

Adrenalin Or Epinephrin

Adrenalin or epinephrin, C₁₇H₁₅N0₄, is found together with adenin, epiguanin, hypoxanthin, and methyl xanthin, in the adrenal glands, and when injected into the circulation causes a marked rise of blood pressure, constriction of the peripheral blood vessels. When injected into mammals it produces excitement, tremors and vomiting. This is followed by paralysis of the hind limbs, dyspnea and rapid respiration, failure of the respiration and death. The urine is increased in quantity and hemorrhages occur from the mucous membrane and kidneys.

The importance of the ductless glands in auto-intoxication will be discussed in Part III.