Destructive Distillation of Animal Substances. 181 



Petinine. 



The most volatile portion of the bases obtained by the frac- 

 tionated distillation was mixed with the small portion which 

 was separated with difficulty from the potash solution, and had 

 been kept separate from the large quantity. The mixed fluid 

 still contained a large quantity of ammonia, for the separation 

 of which it was again rectified several times in succession, and 

 fractionated in a small retort, the receiver being kept carefully 

 cool. After this process has been repeated until it is properly 

 purified, it constitutes the base to which I give the name of 

 petinine (from 7rsTeivdj, volatilis), in allusion to its volatility, 

 which is greater than that of any base yet known, with the 

 exception, of course, of ammonia. The quantity of this sub- 

 stance contained in the bone-oil is excessively small, as I ob- 

 tained from three hundred pounds no more than was sufficient 

 for the determination of its constitution, and the leading cha- 

 racters of a few of its compounds. It is probable, however, 

 that some loss was incurred in the preliminary processes, as, 

 from not anticipating the presence of so volatile a base, I did 

 not take any precautions for producing complete condensation 

 of the products, by means of freezing mixtures or otherwise; 

 and a considerable quantity was also lost owing to my anxiety 

 to expel completely the ammonia which it might retain. 



Constitution of' Petinine. 



The petinine employed for analysis was very carefully dried 

 over caustic potash, the fluid poured off after some days' con- 

 tact, and distilled in the water- bath at a very gentle heat ; a 

 precaution which is rendered necessary by its dissolving a 

 certain quantity of potash. I did not possess a sufficient quan- 

 tity to make a determination of the nitrogen, but took it for 

 granted that oxygen was absent; an assumption which is jus- 

 tified by the analogy of all the other volatile bases, as well as 

 by the perfect coincidence of the experimental results with the 

 calculated formulae. It was analysed with oxide of copper in 

 a very long tube, and gave the following results : — 

 6*663 grains of petinine gave 

 < 16*286 ... carbonic acid, and 

 [f 8-382 ... water; 

 corresponding exactly with the formula C 8 H 10 N, as is shown 

 by the following comparison 



100-00 100-00 900-0 



