The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-12-15
THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

We know. almost for certain, how
dsatb takes place in all fatal diseases
that is. we say, an individual dies, eth
or bv the brain, heart or lungs. In re-
aIity, however, we are still ignorant how
death is brought about, how the machi-
merry comes to a sudden stand-still, what
extinguishes, with the flickering Of the
final expiration, the vital spark forever.
The brain may be extirpated, and anil
NAL life may be observed to be still go
ing on the heart may apparently cease
beating, and yet the existence of the be-
ing is not finally ended respiration is
to all appearances not filling and empty
ing the air vessels any more, but still
more than vegetation keeps up the com
plicated machinery, the spark Of life
still fingers.
What, then, is it that usually causes
DEATH Does it not look very much like
the sudden action of powerful poison,
which 50 thoroughly and at once disin-
tegrates the great circulating, life-giv-
ing and life preserving fluid, the blood.
that the nerve centres end the existence
and force the organism to cease every
motion, like an engine deprived of its
steam2
Experiments that have lately been
made, and which we have to thank for
the discovery of,the Ptonaines, may tend
to lead US a step further in solving the
question before us.
A. GautieT has.made these ptomaines
q special study. 1t has been demonstra-
ted that many organic sgbstan noes, the
fibre III she blood, the urine, and certain
compounds of tissues, when -decOmp0s-
ing give rise to alkaloids-called pto-
maines-which are powerful poisons.
This discovery we owe mainly to Selmi.
But Gautier has done more. He tho't
that if such alkaloi0s are formed on the
decomposition of organic substances,
why may not, in the course of the COM
mon change of tissues, if the latter is
deviating from its true course, also such
ptomines be called into existence.
The result of these investigations full
lY confirmed his theory. A disciple of
G.. POucnet succeeded in obtaining from
the normal urine fixed and easily crys-
talliZable alkaloid, the hydroehlOric COM
pounds of which crystalline, as well as
those with gold chlorid, and platinum
chlorid. And this alkalOid has been
found to be exceedingly poisonous in
most minute doses it causes stupor. te-
tanus, and death within the shortest
time imaginable, stopping the heart in
systole. This very quality relegates this
alkalOid Of the urine to the pt6fnines,
for the toxic effect of which the heart
in systoie IS most characteristic. Gau-
tier was able to isolate from the poison
of the poisonous snakes (Trigorrocepha-
lus and Naja) two similar alkaloids.
Gautier proved also the intense pOis-
onous action of the human saliva on
birds. He evapOrated twenty grms. of
saliva in the water bath, dried the OBS
grm., weighing residue, and dissolved
1t in warm water. This solution inject
ed into the bird, under the skin, caused
stupOr, dilatatiOn of the pupil, increased
frequency of respiration, and, in all ca
ses, death. He was able to isolate an
alkalOid also out of the human saliva.
This alkaloid gave the same color reac-
tiOn as the other ptOmines.
The ptomines are easily oxadIzable.
and may be formed during the normal
change of tissues, even without the
presence Of oxygen.
What may all these Investigations.
and their astonishing results, not ex-
plain IL hypodermic injection of
some vegetable alkalOid accidentally
is made into larger vein, and fatal
result the consequence, under all the
symptoms which we used to ascribe to
the entrance of air, may not the real
cause of death be found, perhaps. in the
sudden formation of the poisonous ami
NAL alkalOids May not many other
similar occurrences, which to-day are
elouded IN mystery as yet, find a similar
Interpretation May not, at the time
OF the dissolution of the body, a similar
process turn out forever the flame of
life r-Meaica! and Surgical Reporter.