332 



substance is best prepared by passing cyanogen into codeine dissolved 

 in the smallest possible quantity of alcohol. The gas is rapidly 

 absorbed, and there is deposited from the solution a mass of crystals 

 which, when dissolved in alcohol, are obtained in six-sided plates, 

 with a fine silvery lustre. These ci'ystals gave to analysis the fol- 

 lowing results : — 



and the author attributes to them the formula Cgg H^j NOg 2 C^ N, 

 and gives to the substance the name of bicyanocodeine. It is a base ; 

 but owing to its extreme instability, no salts could be obtained. When 

 treated with an acid it is rapidly decomposed, ammonia being formed, 

 and, after a time, hydrocyanic acid evolved. 



By treating codeine with a mixture of potash and lime, at a tem- 

 perature of 250° Fahr., it undergoes slow decomposition, and a vola- 

 tile base is evolved, which differs according to the circumstances of 

 the experiment. The author found that, under certain circumstances, 

 the base evolved had the formula Cg H^ N, and forms the term in 

 the series of bases homologous with am-niouia, which corresponds to 

 metacetonic acid, and which may be called metacetamine. Under 

 other circumstances the base evolved had the formula C, H. N, and 

 corresponded, in all its properties, with the methylamine of Wurtz. 



The following is a tabular view of the constitutions of the sub- 

 stances described in this paper : — 



Codeine, . . . Cgg K^i NOg. 



. . . crystallised, . Cgg II^^ NOg + 2 HO . 



Hydrochlorate, . . Cgg H.^, NOg HCl + 4 HO. 



Hydriodate, . . Cgg H,^ NOg HI + 2 HO. 



Sulphate, . . . CggH^iNOgllOSOg + SHO. 



Nitrate, . . . Cgg Hj^ NoJ HO NO^. 



Phosphate, . • (CggIL,^NOgHO)2HOPO, + 3HO. 



Oxalate, . . C^g II J NOg HO C^ Og + 3 HO. 



Hydrosulphocyanate, . Cgg H,, NOg HC.^ NS.^ + HO. 



Platinum salt dried ^t | <. „ ^^^ ^^.j p^ (., j.^^^ 



212', . . J 3fi 21 6 2 



... crystallised, . Cgg H^j NOg HCl Pt Cla + 3 HO. 



