132 BASIC BODIES. 



in water and alcohol, and partially deliquescent, although not so 

 easily crystallised as those of the aniline, and less readily changed 

 by the action of the air. 



Preparation. This body was first discovered in coal-tar, and 

 subsequently in the products of the distillation of bones from which 

 the fat has been removed. (Anderson*). It is obtained by frac- 

 tional distillation. 



This body is isomeric, or rather identical with the aniline or 

 benzidine==:C ll2 H.jN (see p. 80) obtained from nitrobenzide by 

 ammonia and sulphuretted hydrogen ; this benzidine must not be 

 confounded with the benzidine = C 12 H 6 N, (see p. 81), which was 

 obtained by Zinin,t from azobenzide, ammonia, and sulphuretted 

 hydrogen. 



PETININE. C 8 H 10 N. 



Properties. This alkaloid is a colourless, highly refracting 

 fluid, having a sharp pungent odour and taste; it boils at 79, is 

 easily soluble in water, alcohol, and ether, gives a blue tint to red 

 litmus, is the strongest base of all these alkaloids, and is not 

 coloured but decomposed by chloride of lime. 



Composition. According to the above formula it consists of: 



Carbon 8 atoms .... 66*666 



Hydrogen 10 .... 13-890 



Nitrogen 1 .... 19*444 



100-000 



Its atomic weight is=900'0. According to Berzelius, the theo- 

 retical formula of this body would be=H 3 N.C 8 H 7 . 



Combinations. The compounds of petinine with acids are 



readily crystallisable, unaffected by the atmosphere, and soluble in 



+ 



water and alcohol. Chloride of platinum and petinine, P.HCl.PtCl 2 

 forms golden yellow crystals resembling iodide of lead, pretty 

 soluble in cold water. 



Preparation. This base is the most volatile of those yielded by 

 the dry distillation of gelatinous tissues. It is obtained from the 

 mixture of basic bodies and ammonia by fractional distillation. 



* Phil. Mag. 3 Ser., vol. 33, pp. 174-186. 

 t Journ. f. pr. Cli. Bd. 35, 8. 93. 



