200 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



flesh of the horse and ox. It is regarded by these authors 

 as a constant and definite product of the bacterial fermenta- 

 tion of albuminoid substances, but this view is hai-dly justi- 

 fiable, inasmuch as the base has not been found by other 

 investigators. It is accompanied by the base CjjHjgN^ 

 (page 228). Nencki (1882) asserted the identity of this 

 base with the one which he had isolated in 1876, and to 

 which he had ascribed the formula CjHijN. On the other 

 hand Gautier and Etard consider their base to be iden- 

 tical with the hydrocoUidine obtained by Cahours and 

 Etard by the action of selenium on nicotine. 



The free base is an alkaline, almost colorless, oily liquid, 

 possessing a penetrating odor resembling that of syringa. 

 It is volatile without decomposition, and boils at about 205°, 

 while hydrocoUidine boils at 210°. Its density at zero is 

 1.0296. When exposed to the air it oxidizes slowly, be- 

 comes brown and viscous, and at the same time absorbs 

 carbonic acid. It differs from a coUidine in possessing a 

 strong reducing action, since both the gold and platinum 

 double salts become reduced on heating, and even in the 

 cold. 



The Hydrochloride, CgHuN.HCl, is very soluble in 

 water and in alcohol, and usually forms fine needles re- 

 sembling snow crystals. It is neutral in reaction and pos- 

 sesses a bitter taste. In the presence of an excess of acid 

 it reddens and resinifies. 



The Platinochloride, (CgHulSr.HCOjPtCl, (Pt = 

 29.7 per cent.), is of a light yellow, flesh-color, crystalline, 

 and but slightly soluble. It dissolves on warming, and re- 

 crystallizes in bent needles. 



The Atjrochloride is rather soluble, and becomes 

 slowly reduced in the cold ; rapidly on warming. 



Physiological Action. — This isomer of hydrocoUidine 

 is strongly poisonous. Even so small a dose as 0.0017 

 gramme of the hydrochloride produced, when injected under 

 the skin of a bird, marked unsteadiness of gait, followed by 

 paralysis of the extremities, and finally death. The pupils 

 are normal and the heart stops in diastole. Larger doses 

 (0.007 gramme) cause at first vomiting and staggering. 



