148 BASIC BODIES. 



Combinations. Sarcosine forms very crystallisable salts with 

 several acids. 



Hydrochlorate of sarcosine, C 6 H 7 NO 4 .HC1, crystallises in small, 

 transparent needles and granules ; its solution, like that of the 

 hydrochlorate of creatinine, yields no precipitate with bichloride of 

 platinum, but on evaporation we obtain a soluble double compound. 

 C 6 H 7 NO 4 .HCl + PtCl 2 + 2HO, which crystallises in honey- 

 coloured octohedral segments. 



Sulphate of sarcosine, C 6 H 7 NO 4 .HO.SO 3 + Aq., crystallises 

 either in large, feathery plates, or in four-sided, strongly lustrous 

 prisms ; it is soluble in water and hot alcohol, and reddens litmus. 



With acetate of copper sarcosine yields a deep, dark blue, double 

 salt, which crystallises in thin plates. 



Preparation. This base has not yet been found preformed in 

 the animal body, and is only known as a product of the decomposi- 

 tion of creatine, from which it is obtained in the following manner. 

 If a "boiling saturated solution of creatine be digested with pure 

 crystallised caustic baryta, in the proportion of ten parts by weight 

 of baryta to one part of creatine, and, after ammonia ceases to be 

 developed, the carbonate of baryta is removed by filtration, sarco- 

 sine will separate in crystals from the filtrate ; it must be purified by 

 the precipitation of its sulphate by alcohol, and by the decomposi- 

 tion of this salt by carbonate of baryta. 



Tests. The mode in which it is obtained and the properties 

 which we have described, afford sufficient evidence to identity their 

 substance. 



GLYCINE. C 4 H 5 NO 4 . 



Properties. This body which was formerly named sugar of gela- 

 tin, and has more recently been known as glycocoll, crystallises in 

 colourless rhombic prisms belonging to the monoclinometric system, 

 which craunch between the teeth, taste less sweet than cane-sugar, 

 and are devoid of odour ; these prisms are unaffected by exposure to 

 the atmosphere; at 100 they lose no water ; at 178 they melt and be- 

 come decomposed ; they dissolve in 4'3 parts of cold water, more dif- 

 ficultly in cold, but more easily in hot spirit of wine; they are almost 

 insoluble in absolute alcohol and quite so in ether ; these solutions 

 have no effect on a ray of polarised light or on vegetable colours. 

 Exposed to the action of the galvanic circuit glycine is very readily 

 decomposed, at the negative pole there being an alkaline reaction 



