140 LECITHINS. 



weight, as much as 5% in two hours. Its formula is 

 (C 43 H 83 NP0 8 C1) PtCl 4 . 



2. Cadmium chloride may be used instead of platinic 

 chloride. The yellow flaky precipitate may then be 

 washed with alcohol and ether (in which it is little 

 soluble), and can be more easily freed from fat than the 

 platinic chloride compound. It is soluble in alcohol, 

 containing hydrochloric acid. 



3. From these compounds, after removing the 

 metals by hydrothion, lecithine hydrochlorate is 

 obtained on evaporation as a waxy mass. The 

 chlorine having been removed by silver oxyde, and the 

 silver by hydrothion, a homogeneous translucent 

 residue of free lecithine remains. 



4. From brain, fyc.- 9 it may be extracted by the 

 process given under Gerebric acid and Brain (q.v.), and 

 purified by the methods described above. 



5. Lecithine and its compounds are very easily 

 decomposed. The ethereal solution of the double 

 platinum salt forms on standing a light yellow deposit 

 of choline-platinic chloride. The alcoholic solution of 

 lecithine hydrochlorate gives, on long standing, oily 

 drops, free from nitrogen and phosphorus, and forming 

 a soap with alkalies. Free lecithine also decomposes, 

 slowly in the cold, rapidly on warming. Boiling with 

 water does not decompose it (Gobley), but addition of 

 dilute mineral acids or alkalies causes decomposition, 

 with separation of oleic 9 margaric, and glycerophosphoric 

 acid. 



6. When lecithine hydrochlorate is poured into 

 boiling baryta water, a smeary baryum salt separates, 



