CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 197 



that it was formed from the putrefaction of tyrosin, accord- 

 ing to the following equation : 



C,H„N03= C,H„IT + CO, + 0. 



We know that tyrosin does split up, on being heated to 

 270°, into carbonic acid and oxyphenyl-ethylamine, thus : 



CeH<C|.cH.N.r,.C00H = C,H/gH^jj^^3^^C(,^ 



In 1883 Eelenmeyee and Lipp observed that phenyl- 

 a-amido-propionic acid (phenyl-alanine), on dry distillation, 

 decomposed with the formation, among other products, of a 

 base having the composition CgH^N. This base was found 

 to be identical with phenyl-ethylamine, CgH5.CH2.CHj.NH2, 

 and in its properties and composition it resembles Nencki's 

 base. Recently (1889), Nencki has taken up a similar 

 view in regard to the nature of this base, and now regards 

 it as possessing the formula just given — that it is phenyl- 

 ethylamine. He regards phenyl-amido-propionic acid — one 

 of the three aromatic nuclei contained in the albumin mole- 

 cule — as the source of this base. From the fact that phenyl- 

 a-amido-propionic acid is a well-known putrefactive product, 

 it would seem that Nencki's base may arise either from the 

 putrefactive decomposition of that acid, or from the splitting 

 up of the acid as a consequence of the method employed in 

 isolating the base. The latter would seem to be the most 

 probable explanation of the genesis of this base, inasmuch 

 as Beiegee, by using his method for the isolation of pto- 

 maines', has not been able to obtain it from putrid gelatin. 



The Platinochloeide, (C8H„¥.HCl)2PtCl, (Pt = 

 29.89 per cent.), is readily soluble in hot, and but slightly 

 soluble in cold water, and can be, therefore, recrystallized 

 from water. It forms beautiful flat needles. On dry 

 heating it gives oif an oil which possesses an odor 

 resembling very much that of xylol or cumol, and burns 

 with a smoky flame. This distinguishes Nencki's base 

 from collidine, since the platinochloride of the latter does 

 not show this behavior. 



Nencki also obtained from putrid gelatin, under certain 



