Ptomaines And Auto-intoxication. Part 3

Neurin

is a highly toxic substance of obscure genesis. It may be prepared from cholin and is almost always accompanied by it, but the manner in which it is formed in the body is not yet clear. It is probably either derived from cholin by the removal of water or partly replacing cholin in the protagon molecule. In its physiological action it closely resembles curare. A few milligrams injected into a frog causes complete paralysis of the extremities, lessened reflex excitability, increasing failure of the respiration, which becomes superficial and finally ceases, the heart's beat continu ing and finally stopping in diastole. In mammalia, salivation, rhinorhea, mydriasis, dyspnea, increased intestinal peristalsis, irregular respiration and clonic convulsions are produced. Atropin has a marked antagonistic action to neurin, and its injection promptly causes a cessation of these toxic symptoms.

In order to prove that neurin was formed by the dehydration of cholin in lecithin, Nesbitt fed dogs upon the yolk of eggs for several days and then ligated the intestines. Upon examining the intestinal contents he found neurin and cholin, together with the base C₁₀ H₁₅ N. In the autopsies upon these animals it was found that the circulation of the entero-toxins had caused infiltration of Bowman's capsule, cloudy swelling of the convoluted tubules, tube casts, and necrosis of the renal epithelium. (9)

Muscarin

Muscarin, C₅ H₁₃ N 0₂ + H₂0, not only exists in poisonous mushrooms but also in decomposing fish, and it is interesting on account of its relation with cholin, from which it may be prepared by the oxidation of the platino-clorid with nitric acid, and with which it may exist in the body. In its toxic action, which is rapid, profuse salivation, lachrymation, myosis, diarrhea, and death in convulsions are observed. One drop of a one per cent, solution causes dilitation of the pupil of a bird in a very few minutes.

From these brief descriptions it is evident that more than one of these substances might act in a given case, and as many other ptomaines are non-poisonous when in a pure state, but are distinctly so when contaminated, the many possibilities of auto-intoxication are apparent. Since some of these poisons require some time for their formation their presence in the intestines is not to be expected unless there is obstruction or some interference with the peristaltic wave.