CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 189 



bacillus obtained from tliis source, on liver and intestines 

 (KiiKKNHEKQ, 1887). It is also formed, together with 

 trimethylamine, when ncuridine hydnx-hloride is distille<l 

 with sodium hydrate (BRIEGER, I., 23). It occurs in the 

 men-uric chloride precipitate as well as filtrate. From 

 eadaverine it can !>< separated by platinum chloride, since 

 cadaverine platinoehloride is difficultly soluble in cold water, 

 and recrystallizes from hot water, whereas the dimethyl- 

 amine double salt remains in the mother-liquor. In like 

 manner it can be separated from neuridine. From choline 

 it can be isolated by recrystallizing the mercuric chloride 

 precipitate from hot water. 



The free base is a gas at ordinary temperature, but can 

 be condensed to a liquid which boils at 8 -9. The 

 hydrochloride, (CH 3 ) 2 .NH.HCI, crystallizes in needles, 

 which deliquesce OD exposure to air and are soluble in abso- 

 lute alcohol (BRIEGER, I , 56). It is insoluble in absolute 

 alcohol (BOCKLISCH) but soluble in chloroform (BEHREND), 

 and can then be separated from methylamine hydrochloride, 

 which is insoluble in chloroform. 



The PLATINOCHLORIDE, [(CH 3 ) 2 .NH.HCl] 2 PtCl,, (Pt 

 = 39.00 per cent.), crystallizes in long needles, which are 

 easily soluble in hot water, less soluble in cold water. Some- 

 times it forms orange-yellow plates or prisms, or else small 

 needles. 



The AUROCHLORIDE, (CHf s ) a .NH.HCl.AuClj, forms 

 needles (BOCKLISCH), or large yellow monoclinic plates 

 (HJORTDAHL), which are insoluble in absolute alcohol. 



TRIMETHYLAMINE, C 3 H 9 N = (CH 3 ) 3 N, has been known 

 for a long time to occur in animal and vegetable tissues. 

 DESSAIGNES showed its presence in leaves of Chenopodium 

 (1851), in the blood of calves (1857), and later in human 

 urine. It has Ixrn obtained from ergot (Secalc cornntum) 

 by WALZ (18&2) and BBIBQBB(1886); from herring-brine 

 by WERTHEIM, WINKLES, TOLLENS, and lioc-KuscH. 

 In these substances, with the exception of herring-brine, it 

 probably does not exist pre-formed, but is rather a product 

 of the method employed for its isolation. In fact, BRIEGER 



9* 



