
ITS PRODUCTS OF DECOMPOSITION. 83 
These results approach most closely to the formula C, H, N H Cl Pt Cl, ; and 
though the carbon is very deficient, and the platinum considerably in excess, 
there can be no doubt that this is due to the imperfect separation of the methy- 
lamine, and that this is its true formula; and that of the base itself C, H, N. 
The base, then, obviously belongs to the same series as methylamine, and forms 
the term of the series corresponding to metacetonic acid, and, in accordance with 
the system of nomenclature adopted by Wurtz, it receives the name of metaceta- 
mine. I have not attempted the examination of the salts of this base, as I did 
not obtain it in sufficient quantity for that purpose; but I take the opportunity 
of stating, that before I had obtained it from codeine I had ascertained its exist- 
ence among the products of destructive distillation of animal substances, and that 
I shall, at a future period, detail the properties of its compounds.* 
The residue in the retort after these bases have been evolved, is dark cinna- 
mon-brown, and slightly coherent ; it dissolves in water, with a dark-brown, almost 
black colour, and gives with acids a flocculent brown precipitate of a humus-like 
substance, and perfectly amorphous, which I have not thought it necessary to 
examine. It still contains nitrogen; and by exposure to a heat gradually raised 
to low redness, it gives an additional quantity of volatile bases, among which 
ammonia becomes more and more abundant as the temperature rises. A non- 
basic oil also makes its appearance, but only in very small quantity. 
Since these experiments were made, I have received the February number of 
the Annalen der Chimie und Pharmacie, which contains a preliminary notice of 
an investigation by WERTHEIM of the action of soda-lime on certain organic bases. 
He has obtained metacetamine from narcotine, and methylamine from morphia; 
and considering these substances to be directly eliminated from the bases, he ex- 
pects to obtain the residual atoms in the form of a definite compound. I enter- 
tained a similar idea with regard to codeine, until I detected the formation of 
two different bases, which seemed to me rather to indicate that these substances 
appear as the result of a true destructive distillation ; and that possibly by vary- 
ing the circumstances of the experiment, other bases may be obtained. 
I have also observed another remarkable decomposition of codeine, by which 
volatile bases are obtained. 1 have already mentioned the formation, by the 
action of nitric acid, of a resinous acid, with the examination of which I am still 
engaged. This acid, which is insoluble in water, dissolves readily in dilute 
potash, with a red colour; and the solution on boiling evolves a volatile base in 
* I may at the same time mention, that I have convinced myself that the petinine described by me 
two years since as existing in bone-oil, is represented by the formula C, H,, N, and not by C, H,, N, 
which I then gave for it. Indeed, my analysis of the platinum salt, which is most to be depended upon, 
tallies equally well with either formula. I have also ascertained the existence of ethylamine and me- 
thylamine in bone-oil. The details of these experiments will be contained in the second part of my 
paper on the Products of the Destructive Distillation of Animal Matters. 
