202 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



unpleasant, weak pyridine or coniine odor, and is but 

 slightly soluble in water; soluble in ether and in chlo- 

 roform. 



In regard to the constitution of this ptomaine we know 

 nothing, but from its physical c'haracters it would seem to 

 possess a pyridine nucleus. It is isomeric with corindine, 

 a homologue of parvoline and collidine, which has been 

 obtained from coal-tar. 



For the behavior of the hydrochloride to alkaloidal re- 

 agents, see Table I. 



The Hydrochloeide, CioHuN.HCl, crystallizes in 

 colorless cholesterine-like plates which are somewhat deli- 

 quescent. 



The Platinochloride, (C,„Hi5]Sr.HCl)2PtCl, (Pt = 

 27.52 per cent.), forms a light flesh-colored, crystalline pre- 

 cipitate, and is insoluble in water, alcohol, and ether. It 

 does not resinify, and is stable at 100°. 



Physiological Action. — This ptomaine resembles curara, 

 although it is by no means as strong. 0.012 gramme of 

 the free base produced in a frog dilatation of the pupil and 

 slowing of the respiration. The nostrils were motionless, 

 and within five hours complete paralysis of the muscles 

 took place. The reflex excitability gradually diminished 

 until it finally disappeared. An orange-blossom odor was 

 observed about the frogs which were poisoned by this 

 ptomaine. The same amount of ptomaine injected into a 

 greenfinch produced vomiting, and a condition of weakness 

 and decreased sensibility, followed soon, however, by re- 

 covery. A rat was not atfected by 0.020 gramme of the 

 free base. The hydrochloride acts much more energetically. 



A Base, CuHuN, was isolated by 0. de Coninck, in 

 1886 (HuGOUNENQ, page 21, C. Rendus, 1888), from 

 sea-polyps in an advanced stage of putrefaction, together 

 with the base CgH^jN. The method employed for its ex- 

 traction was that of Gautier and Etard (see page 164). 

 It forms a sligiitly yellow, viscous liquid, and possesses a 

 pleasant odor resembling that of blooming broom. Its 

 density is about 1.18. It boils at about 230° (uncorrected). 



