1903.] The Physiological Action of Betaine. 351 



(1.) 0-2150 gramme substance, by Kjeldahl's method, gave 0-00198 



gramme N. 

 (2.) 0-2075 gramme substance gave 0-1930 gramme AgCl. 



Found. 



Calc. for C 8 H n N0 2 Cl. T JL 



N = 9-13 per cent. 9-21 



Cl = 23-08 22-96 



The alcoholic filtrate from the compound of betaine hydrochloride 

 with mercuric chloride was evaporated down, the residue dissolved in 

 water, and decomposed with sulphuretted hydrogen; the solution 

 filtered from mercuric sulphide, evaporated to dryness, yielded a 

 further 2*1 grammes of betaine hydrochloride, coloured brown ; by 

 treatment with cold alcohol most of the colouring matter was removed, 

 and the residue after recrystallisation from alcohol, to which a little 

 animal charcoal was added, was obtained pure and melted at 237 238 

 C. with decomposition. For further characterisation, a portion of it 

 was converted into its compound with gold chloride. 



E. Fischer 6 has recently pointed out that betaine gold chloride, when 

 crystallised from water, melts at about 209 C., and gives, on deter- 

 mination of the gold, values too low to agree with the formula 

 CsHigOaN AuCU ; it is only when crystallised from dilute hydrochloric 

 acid that it gives values agreeing with that formula ; he has shown 

 that this compound melts at 245 C. (corr. 250 C.) when quickly 

 heated, but that the melting point often lies 10 lower owing to decom- 

 position if the substance is not quickly heated. 



The gold chloride compound obtained, when recrystallised from 

 water, melted at about 209 210 C., and gave the following results 

 on analysis : 



(1.) 0-2502 gramme substance, dried at 100 C., gave 0-0998 gramme 



Au. 

 (2.) 0-2279 gramme substance, dried at 100 C., gave 0'0910 gramme 



Au. 



Found (1) Au = 39'89 per cent. ; (2) Au = 39'93 per cent. 



A portion recrystallised from dilute hydrochloric acid crystallised in 

 leaflets, melted at 235 238 C. with decomposition, and gave the 

 following result on analysis : 



0-2880 gramme substance, dried in vacua over sulphuric acid, gave 

 0*1264 gramme Au. 



Found Au = 43'89 per cent. 



requires Au = 43-14 per cent. 



