.' II K M ISTK V oF TI1K !' TO M A 1 N K S . '_' 1 ") 



deserve special mention at this place, lie carried on the 

 putrefaction of very dilute solutions of the chloride of 

 eholine in the presence of little or no oxygen in HoiM'K- 

 SI.VI.KI: fermentation flasks. Sewer -lime, beeau-e of it- 

 strong fermentative properties, was used to induce the 

 putrefaction, and calcium carbonate was added to neu- 

 trali/e any acidity that might develop during the fermen- 

 tation. 



The fermentation, as shown by the evolution of gases, 

 lasted fii- about three months. The total quantity of gas 

 given oft' was about one litre from 1.17 grammes eholine 

 chloride. The gases consisted almost entirely of carbonic 

 acid and marsh gas. No hydrogen was evolved. When 

 the fermentation ceased the flask was opened and several 

 cubic centimetres of the almost neutral clear liquid were 

 injected under the skin of a rabbit without producing the 

 least ell'ect. 



This liquid distilled with alkali gave methylamine 

 and ammonia. What is remarkable about this experiment 

 was the total absence of the higher amines as, for instance, 

 trimethvlamine, which has been observed so many times as 

 a decomposition-product of eholine. The absence of any 

 poisonous base, as neurine, was probably largely connected 

 with the absence of oxygen. 



Free eholine ordinarily forms a strongly alkaline syrup 

 which combines readily with acids to form salts, most of 

 which are deliquescent, liy oxidation it is converted into 

 bctaine (see pa-e % J4!), and on treatment with concentrated 

 nitric acid it give- ri-e to muscarine (see page 2">1). The-<- 

 reactions can be represented by the equations : 



o 



ril.OII (' ()I , 



CH a +<>.. MI, +H 3 0. 



N(CH 3 ) 3 .OH N(CII 3 ) 3 .oil 



Clll. I. INK. Ill I MNK. 



