202 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



unpleasant, weak pyridinc or coniine odor, and is but 

 slightly soluble in water; soluble in ether and in chlo- 

 roform. 



In regard to the constitution of this ptomaine we know 

 nothing, but from its physical characters it would seem to 

 possess a pyridine nucleus. It is isomerie with corindine, 

 a homologue of parvolinc and collidine, which has l>een 

 obtained from coal-tor. 



For the Ix'havior of the hydroehloride to alkaloidal re- 

 agents, see Table I. 



The HYDROCHLORIDE, C, H 15 N.HC1, crystal li/cs in 

 colorless cholesterinc-like plates which arc somewhat, deli- 

 quescent. 



The PLATINOCHLORIDE, (C 10 H 15 N.HCl) 2 PtCl 4 (Ft = 

 27.52 per cent.), forms a light flesh-colored, crystalline pre- 

 cipitate, and is insoluble in water, alcohol, and ether. It 

 does not resinify, and is stable at 100. 



Physiological Action. This ptomaine resembles curara, 

 although it is by no means as strong. 0.012 gramme of 

 the free base produced in a frog dilatation of the pupil and 

 slowing of the respiration. The nostrils were motionless, 

 and within five hours complete paralysis of the muscles 

 took place. The reflex excitability gradually diminished 

 until it finally disappeared. An orange-blossom odor was 

 observed about the frogs which were poisoned by this 

 ptomaine. The same amount of ptomaine injected into a 

 greenfinch produced vomiting, and a condition of weakness 

 and decreased sensibility, followed soon, however, by re- 

 covery. A rat was not affected by 0.020 gramme of the 

 free base. The hydroehloride acts much more energetically. 



A BASE, C 10 H 18 N, was isolated by 0. DE CONINCK, in 

 1886 (HUGOUNENQ, page Si, C. Rendus, 1888), from 

 sea-polyps in an advanced stage of putrefaction, together 

 with the base C 8 H U N. The method employed for its ex- 

 traction was that of GAUTIER and ETARD (see page 164). 

 It forms a slightly yellow, viscous liquid, and possesses a 

 pleasant odor resembling that of blooming broom. Its 

 density is about 1.18. It boils at about 230 (iincorrected), 



