The record-union., 1898-06-01
THE PTOMAINE AND HEALTH IN
THE HOME.

So much has been said of the dreaded
"ptomaine," that a recent essay upon
it by DR.. Shrady Of New York is timely,
and will much inform the public intelli-
gence as to what ptomaines are, and
when they are to be feared, and when
to be welcomed. "Ptomaine" is the
generic term for alkaloid bodies formed
from animal and vegetable tissues
after putrefaction sets in, and similar
bodies, produced by pathogenic bac-
terra, that is bacteria productive. of dis
ease. Most of the putrefactive changes
dead bodies, but they also occur in liv-
ing bodies.
Some alkaloids are very, and some
slightly poisonous and some not at all.
Now when nutrition stops in an or
ganic- or inorganic body putrefaction
sets in. For instance, as soon as a
flower or vegetable is plucked it be-
gins to decay, and as soon as flesh
ceases to have life in it decay sets up.
So 1t is impossible to avoid the con-
sumption Of ptomaines. Thus it is
that we eat and drink a good deal of
poison, of which happily for our peace
of mind, says the doctor, we are uncon-
scious. Thus cheese is full Of pto-
maines: tainted meat is charged with
them and anything not perfectly fresh
is to some extent ptomaine loaded.
Readers of the ''Record-Union" will
recall several accounts published from
time to time in these columns of seri-
Gus sickness having been caused, and,
1t is alleged, even some deaths, by the
use of berry boxes the second time for
packing, because the remains of old
berries in the crevices had putrefied,
ptomaines had developed, infected the
new berries which eaten, had caused
severe poisoning. So, too, vessels in
which milk had been kept, and which
had not been properly scalded before
being again put to use have caused
poisoning in human beings, because
the remains of the old and decaying
milk had developed ptomaines. Many
other instances of the same order will
be recalled. ~
DR.. Shrady says that science does not
deny this kind of poisoning, but that it
does deny that the poisoning is fatal.
This statement will surprise. because
it has been generally thought by the
layman that ptomaine poisoning might
be fatal. The doctor says:
Cases where death has resulted show
the inability of the system to eliminate
the poison rather than the direct action
of the poison itself. Take the case
of the noted musician, Anton Seidl.
Why was his wife not poisoned also,
for she ate of the shad roe which was
supposed to have killed MIN? 1t hap
pened that in his case some of his or
gans were affected by other ailments
and the poison could not be thrown off
Nature protects her children from poi
sons consumed with food by eliminating
them through the kidneys, liver, intes-
tines, and skin. This is clearly shown
In cases OF cholera morbus, due to eat
ing food undergoing putrefaction. Sc
we're vomiting. diarrhea and retarded
respiration are the symptoms, and all
show the stupendous efforts nature
makes to eliminate the poisons.
Some foods are better mediums for
transfTence Of ptomaines than others
Certain foods poison certain people
Some cannot eat fish, others cannot
touch berries OF any kind: some must
refuse cucurnbers which so many eat
without Ill effects. These instances
show individual weakness. In some
instances eating berries causes an
eruption Of the skin, which proves that
that skin is not capable Of normal dis
charge Of its functions.
In almost all cases Of ptomaine poi
soning the eliminating organs, espe-
cially the kidneys, are the sources of
the trouble. If certain ptomaines nat
urally belonging in q healthy body are
tines they remain in the blood and
poison as surely as does arsenic. Ger
tain ptomaines are necessary to the di-
geSt1ve process. and even to the nu-
tritive process. These start fermenta-
ton by altering the conditions of certai n
complex bodies. by splitting them up
into simpler compounds, so that the
food is more nutritious and is more cas-
lily assimilated. So, then, there are pto-
maines that are absolutely necessary
TO our happiness.
Ordinarily, food properly cared for
will not be affected by dangerous pto-
nlaines. For instance. food frozen.
thawed out and frozen again is very
dangerous. Cold storage is responsible
for many ptomaines. Chickens have
beeen kept in cold storage a year, and
without having had the intestines re-
moved. Think of it," says DR.. Shrady.
Think of taking such food into the
human body" In most cases nature
by severe work eliminates the pto-
naines thus transmitted, but that she
should not be given the task he very
clearly intimates. There is very little
harm in hung meats in cold weather,
for the micro-organisIns which get in
their work in cold weather are not very
dangerous. He adds:
Fish is very ant to decompose rapid
ignore rapidly than ordinary flesh,
and putrefaction is indicated by a
stale. tainted taste that is apt to make
one Ill. but does not kill. Oysters, un-
less perfectly fresh, are very poison
Gus, and when oysters look glazed. have