CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 201 



which soon give way to a condition of exaltation. Toward 

 the end tetanic convulsions set in, followed by almost com- 

 plete paralysis. 



A Base, CgHijN, isomeric with parvoline, has been ex- 

 tracted by Gautier and Etard (1881) from decomposing 

 mackerel and horseflesh. The method employed by these 

 chemists for its isolation is given on page 164. The iden- 

 tity of this base with the synthetic parvoline, obtained by 

 Waage by heating ammonia with propionic aldehyde in a 

 sealed tube at 200°, cannot be considered to be definitely 

 settled, although an apparent identity exists in regard to 

 their boiling-points. Thus, the synthetic parvoline boils at 

 193°-196°, while Gautier and Etard assign to their 

 base a boiling-point a little below 200°. Further investi- 

 gation is necessary to decide upon the question of the iden- 

 tity of this base with parvoline, or of the ptomaine CgHjgN 

 with hydrocoUidine. 



The free base is an oily, amber-colored liquid, possessing 

 the odor of hawthorn blossoms. It is slightly soluble in 

 water ; very soluble in alcohol, in ether, and in chloroform. 

 Its boiling-point, as stated above, is a trifle below 200°. 

 Like the bases CgH^N and C,jH,5N it becomes brown and 

 soon resinifies on exposure to air. 



The Platinoohmride, (CgHj3N.HCl)i,PtCI, (Pt = 

 28.65 per cent.), is slightly soluble, crystalline, and flesh 

 colored ; exposed to the air it soon becomes pink. 



The AuROCHLORiDE is quite soluble. 



A Base, CioHu^, was isolated by Guareschi and 

 Mosso (1883) from ox-blood fibrin which had been allowed 

 to putrefy for five months. In 1887 it was re-obtained from 

 putrid fibrin by Guareschi, who this time ascribed to it the 

 formula Cj„H,3N. In 1886 Oechsnbr de Coninck found 

 it among the basic products formed in the putrefaction of 

 the jelly-fish (poulpes marins, Hugounenq, page 21). The 

 method used for its extraction was that of Gautier and 

 Etard (see page 164). It forms a brownish oil of strong 

 alkaline reaction, which soon resinifies. It possesses an 



