rilKMISTRY OK Till! 1'TOMAINKS. 227 



Cnanidiue, NH^C 



Methyl-guankline forms a colorless, ea.-ilv deliquescent 



mass p., --.(--in- ;l strong alkaline reaction. On heating 

 with potassium hydrate it decomposes, and yields amnionia 

 and mcthylamine. It is a highly poisonous base. 



The HYDROCHLORIDE, C 2 H 7 N 3 .HC1, am be obtained 

 from the pierate by dissolving the latter in water acidulated 

 with hydrochloric acid, and extracting the solution with 

 ether to remove the picric acid. The colorless aqueous 

 solution now, on evaporation, yields a thin syrup which 

 crystallize in vacuum to compact prisms. These are in- 

 soluble in alcohol, and give with platinum chloride a double 

 salt of monoclinic needles (II.u\siioi-'Ku) which are very 

 easily soluble (1 part in about 7 parts water, TATAKINOW i. 



The AUROCHLORIDE, C 2 H 7 N 3 .IICI.AnCl 3 (An = 47.71 

 per cent.) forms rhombic crystals (HAUSHOFER) which are 

 easily soluble in ether, more difficultly in water or alcohol ; 

 readily soluble (BRIEFER). It readily decomposes on heat- 

 ing in pure water, but may be nvrvstallized from water 

 acidulated with hydrochloric acid. It melts at 198. 



The PICRATE, C 2 H 7 N S .C 6 H 2 (N() 2 ) 3 OH, comes down at 

 first as a resinous precipitate, which when boiled with much 

 water solidities in the form of felted needles. It is very 

 difficultly soluble in water, and ran be purified by repeated 

 recrystalli/ation from boiling absolute alcohol distinction 

 from cadaver inc. It melts at 102. 



The Ox A LATE, (C 2 l! 7 X 3 ),.II 2 C 2 4 + 2H 2 O, fi.rms crystals 

 which are easily soluble in water. 



Physiological Action. Mcthyl-guanidine as obtained 

 from putrefy ing flesh is identical in its physiological 

 action with the synthetic base. It has already been stated 

 that the non-poisonous creatin is readily converted into the 

 relatively energetic poison creatininc. The latter substance 

 possesses a paralysing action differing very much from its 



