a name for food poisoning, the sickness resulting from eating food contaminated by either bacterialtoxins or by certain bacteria, often causing vomiting, diarrhea and prostration (physical or mental exhaustion). So named as it was earlier thought to b e caused by ptomaines (substances found in decaying animal or vegetable matter). Ptomaine comes from the Greek word for corpse. —Class VIII №10, Approved November 1990