CIIKMISTKV >K TIIK PTOMAINES. -IT 



long to the same system ; while 1 1 iMi:sn A<;I:N holds that 

 they arc distinct. Instead of the salt presenting an in- 

 -laiiee of triinorphisni as fust stated by IhM>i:sii.\(;i:N, it 

 would seem that but two Conns occur anhydrous mono- 

 clinic and octahedra with one molecule of water of crystal- 

 li/ation. ft contains always more or less water of crystal- 

 li/.ation which it does not give up completely over sulphuric 

 acid, but only at 1 10 (BuiKUKU). The natural platino- 

 chloride becomes strongly electric on rubbing, whereas the 

 synthetic choline double salt docs not become electric. It 

 melts at 2-2"> with ellervescciice (.I.viixs). 



Tile Ari:orllI,<>mi>K, C.H^NO.Cl.AuCl, (An =44. IX 

 pel 1 cent.), i* crystalline and is difficultly soluble in cold 

 water, but can be recrystalli/ed from hot water or from 

 boiling alcohol. It form* prisms, or gold-yellow long 

 needles, which are very easily soluble in hot water and 

 alcohol (LiiM'MANN). It can be separated from neuridine 

 aurochloride by its solubility in water (BBIBQBB). On 

 heating, the gold salt melts to a brown liquid (SciIUL/lo) 

 and decomposes at 264. 



The Mi;i:<Ti:nriiLoi;ii>K, C s H 14 NO.C1.6IIgCl 2 , is ex- 

 trcmely dilliculty soluble even in hot water. On this 

 account the mercury salt is very convenient for the separa- 

 tion of choline from accompanying bases. 



The Pirn.vrK, r,H, 4 NO.OC 6 H 2 (NO 2 ) s , forms long, broad 

 needles which are more easily soluble than neuridine picrate, 

 and hence can be separated by reorystalli/ation. It is more 

 easily soluble in alcohol than in water. 



F%yioloffical A<-/i<>n of C/i<>lin<: Choline was regardeil 

 for a long time as physiologically inert, but this belief 

 was set aside by ( J.\ KHT<;KNS (1870), who showed that, 

 when given in large quantity, it poeoed a toxic action. 

 This observation of (i.\ I:H r;i:.\s has since .been con- 

 firmed by ({LATSK and LUCIISIMJKI:, JiitiKCKi:, and 

 r>oi:iiM. The chloride of choline produces in animals the 

 same muscarme-like symptoms of poisoning as are devel- 

 oped by the vinyl base neurine, the only difference lies in 

 the intensity of the action. In order to bring about a 

 physiological disturbance, choline must be given in rela- 



