638 



there was a large quantity, so that it was recrystallized twice. A 

 platinum-salt made from the chloride insoluble in absolute alcohol 

 (of which there was only a very small quantity), gave 44'3 per 

 cent, platinum, which is almost the same as the amount in chloro- 

 platinate of ammonia. No phenylic alcohol was found nor any of 

 its compounds ; and according to an experiment of Long (not yet 

 published), on the oxidation of phenylic alcohol, that chemist always, 

 excepting when he used spongy platinum, obtained a resinous mass. 



From the above experiments, it appears that by the action of 

 nitrous acid, nitric acid, binoxide of manganese and sulphuric acid, 

 permanganate of potash*, potash f, and in some cases by the pre- 

 sence of acids alone (as sulphuric or hydrochloric) J, on the organic 

 bases in the presence of water, water only is decomposed in the 

 first stage of the reaction ; and the fact that the radicals contained 

 in the bases are replaced by hydrogen by degrees, makes it plausible 

 that by these means we may be able to determine the constitution of 

 the natural organic bases. 



I am now experimenting with narcotine, and to all appearance, I 

 shall succeed in determining its constitution. 



In conclusion, I may here be allowed to thank Dr. Holzmann for 

 his assistance in carrying out the above experiments. 



February 10, 1859. 



Sir BENJAMIN C. BRODIE, Bart., President, in the Chair. 

 The following communication was read : 



"Experiments on the Action of Food upon the Respiration/' 

 By EDWARD SMITH, M.D., LL.B., L.R.C.P., Assistant- 

 Physician to the Hospital for Consumption, Brompton. 

 Communicated by Sir BENJAMIN C. BRODIE, Bart. Re- 

 ceived January 6, 1859. 



(Abstract.) 



The author had proved in his former Paper that the maximum 

 influence of food is observed within two and a half hours after its 



* By its action on aniline, ammonia is obtained. t 111 its action on the amides. 

 J In the case of asparagine, benzamide, &c. 



