San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-10-18

ore vi h chemical nature Gccounts for the
poisons found in corpses. These poisons bear
some resemblance to the alkaloids Of the
hemlock, strychniDe, veratrine, etc. A gen.
e-al was supposed to have been poisoned by
his servant, in Rome, and a poison was found
in his body, bearing great resemblance to
a virulent poison found in the larkspur. But
this evidence of murder was overcome by the
success of the late distinguished professor of
legal medicine in the university, Professor
Selmi, of Bologna, in obtaining the same
poison from a corpse where every suspicion
of poisoning was excluded.
In 1870, Selmi began series Of investiga-
lions concerning ptomaines, which was only
interrupted by his death. Selmi obtained
from putrid flesh extracts which gave re-
actions similar to those Of morphine. stIych-
nine and delphinine But he did not succeed
il isolating completely any ptomaine.
Nencki, in 1876, first succeeded in determin-
ing the composition of a ptomaine. This
substance was obtained from putrid gelatine.
The poisons like those found in corpses,
called ptoniaines by chemists, are created by
the pusrefaction Of fish, white Of egg, meat,
cheese, gelatine and yeast. The presence Of
moisture is an essential condition, hence the
moist mixture of sausage filling is especially
well adapted to the formation of these
poisons 1t is a matter of observation that
u great many cases of poisoning have fol-
lowed the consumption of sausage or of fish
that have been kept damp. The action OF
the ptomeines is more virulent when they are
introduced into the circulation through
wounds, than when they are in the stomach.
Hence, it is that cuts received while dis
secting corpses often end in death.
PERSONS WHO ARE SENSITIVE.
People are not equally sensitive to these
poisons. Some persons are SO sensitive that
fish seemingly fresh will cause them incon-
venience. Others are likely to suffer from
peculiar eruption Of the skin after eating
crabs or Holsters In the maize porridge,
which is called ''polenta," and which is the
chief food OF certain class of Italian work
men, there is formed by putrefaction in hot
weather a poison which causes ''pellagra,"
an eruption Of the skin resembling erysipelas,
which grows worse in time and finally causes
death.
In every day life the ptomaines give evil
dence of their presence. The frequent in
Examinations of the fingers Of persons engaged
in washing dishes are due to this cause. The
best remedies for the evil is washing with
soap, which acts as mild disinfecJant.
All fool, whether vegetable or animal,
must be regarded with suspicion as soon as
the first signs of decomposition become
noticeable. Especially should great care be
taken in times of epidemics. The poisons of
putrefaction are adorless compounds, and it
must not always be inferred that they Go not
exist before the odor of putrefaction is per
ceived These poisons are not destroyed by
boiling.
Four hundred cases Of sickness in Suabia
have been traced to sausage poisoning from
1893 to 1853. The plague like epidemic that
occurred in the Volga district some time ago
was traced to the diet of the people in those
regions, which consisted almost exclusively
Of fish
Ptomaines are divided into two classes
those containing oxygen and those which do
not contain this element. Classics.