CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 193 



With picric acid it yields yellow needles which are but 

 slightly soluble in cold water. 



Propylamine, CjHj.NHj, is isomeric with trimethyl- 

 amine, and can therefore be easily confounded with that 

 base. There are two propylamines possible represented 

 by the formulae CHs.CHj.CH^.NHj, and (CHj^.CH.NH^. 

 The former, or the normal compound, boils at 47°-48°, 

 whilst the latter, or iso-propylamine, boils at 31.5°. Both 

 are liquids possessing an ammoniacal, fish -like odor. They 

 form crystalline salts ; the hydrochlorides melt respectively 

 at 155°-158°, and at 139.5°. 



Iso-propylamine (?) has been found among the distilla- 

 tion products of the vinasse of beet-root molasses. Propyl- 

 amine has been obtained by Briegek (1887) from cultures 

 of the bacteria of human feces on gelatin. Schwanert 

 has isolated from the organs of a cadaver a basic substance 

 which was said to possess an odor similar to propylamine. 



BuTYLAMiNE, C^HuN, was obtained by Gautier and 

 MouRGUES (1888) in cod-liver oil. It forms a colorless, 

 mobile, alkaline liquid, the boiling-point of which they 

 found to be 86° at 760 mm. It absorbs carbonic acid from 

 the air and readily forms salts. The platinochloride forms 

 golden-yellow plates which are quite soluble. 



In animals it produces an increase in the function of the 

 skin and kidneys, and in large doses fatigue, stupor, and 

 vomiting. 



2) 



Iso-AMYLAMiNE, QH^jN = (CH3)2.CH.CH,.CH,.NH, 

 has been obtained by Limpricht in the distillation of horn 

 with potash ; it also occurs in the putrefaction of yeast 

 (MuLLER, Hesse, 1857) ; and in cod-liver oil (Gautier 

 and Mourgues, 1888), where it constitutes nearly one- 

 third of the bases present. 



It is a colorless, strongly alkaline liquid, possessing an 

 odor which is not disagreeable. At the ordinary pressure 

 it boils at 97°-98°. 



The hydrochloride forms deliquescent crystals, which 



