332 BACTERIA'L POISONS. 



theoretically, if represented by the above formula. A de- 

 termination of the vapor density showed that the molecular 

 weight was twice that corresponding to the formula given, 

 and hence was C 4 H )0 N 2 . MAJERT and SCHMIDT assuming 

 spermine to be ethyleneimine, as was apparently shown by 

 LADENBURG and ABEL'S investigation, attempted to pre- 

 pare the latter on a manufacturing scale with the expecta- 

 tion that it might be used as a substitute for BROWN- 

 SEQUARD'S testicular fluid. They were soon able to show, 

 however, that ethyleneimine did not possess the composition 

 assigned to it, but that it was identical with HOFMANN'- 

 diethylenediamine (piperazine), 



This was soon confirmed by HOFMANN and by LADENBURG. 

 Spermine was then assumed to be identical with piperazine, 

 but recently (1891) MAJERT and SCHMIDT compared some 

 spermine from SCHREINER with their own piperazine and 

 found the two bases to be distinct, especially with reference 

 to the phosphates and the potassium bismuth iodide pre- 

 cipitates. 



About the same time (1891) POEHL announced that the 

 composition of spermine was more complex than what it 

 had been hitherto supposed to be. He ascribed to it the 

 formula Cj H 26 N 4 . The formula of the platinum salt cor- 

 responded to C 10 H 26 N 4 .4HC1.2PtCl 4 ; and that of the gold 

 salt was represented by C, H 26 N 4 .4HC1.4AuCl 3 . 



From this it would appear that spermine is essentially 

 distinct from piperazine. The composition and structure 

 of this interesting base must therefore be considered as not 

 settled. 



The nuclein of the spawn of salmon has been found 

 by MIESCHER to exist in a salt-like combination with a 

 basic substance, to which he applied the name protamine. 

 PICARD has found it in the same source, together with 

 hypoxanthioe and guanine, but no xanthine. The formula 

 assigned to this base is quite complex, and cannot be con- 

 sidered as definitely settled. Analysis of the platino- 



