Methyl mercaptan in relation to foetor hepaticus

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A case of massive hepatic necrosis exhibited foetor hepaticus in the breath and a similar odor in the urine. Passage of N through the urine into mercuric cyanide yielded mercury dimethyl mercaptide Hg (SCH3)2. The probable source of the methyl mercaptan is the CH3S-group of methionine, the normal demethylating processes being inhibited by liver damage. Both methyl mercaptan and dimethyl disulfide may be exhaled in the breath. Analogous reactions in certain micro-organisms, and with the enzyme thionase,and the toxicity of methionine to man and animals are considered.