CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 205 



maine is much more easily soluble. Beiegeb is, therefore, 

 inclined to think that it is identical with ethylidenediamine, 

 CH3.CH(NH2)2, rather than with ethylenediamine, which 

 has the structure, CH2.NII2.CH2.NH2. This ptomaine 

 was obtained by Brieger, in 1885 (I., 44), from decom- 

 posing haddock (see Gadinine). 



The free base can be obtained, without decomposition, on 

 distilling the hydrochloride with sodium hydrate. 



The Hydeochloeide, C2H8N2.2HCI, crystallizes in 

 long glistening needles which are readily soluble in water, 

 insoluble in absolute alcohol. It gives no combination with 

 gold chloride. For its behavior to alkaloidal reagents see 

 Table I. 



The Platinochloride, C2H8N2.2HCl.PtCl^ (Pt = 

 41.49 per cent.), forms small yellow plates which are 

 moderately difficultly soluble in water. It can be readily 

 recrystallized from hot water. 



Physiological Action. — Frogs seem to be less suscepti- 

 ble to the action of this poison than mice or guinea-pigs. 

 In the latter, it produces a short time after injection an 

 abundaut periodic flow of secretion from the nose, mouth, 

 and eyes. The pupils dilate and the eyeballs project. 

 Violent dyspnoea then comes on and predominates until the 

 death of the animal, which does not take place for twenty- 

 four hours or more. The heart is stopped in diastole. 



TeiiiIETHYlenediamine (?), CjHjjNj (?), is a toxic base 

 isolated by Brieger (1887) from cultures of the comma 

 bacillus on beef-broth. It may be stated here that from 

 the same, source, cholera cultures, KuNZ (1888) obtained a 

 base which he considered to be identical with spermine or 

 ethyleneimine (see next chapter). It is present, however, in 

 exceedingly minute quantity, and occurs in the mercuric 

 chloride precipitate, from which it is obtained by the fol- 

 lowing method : The precipitate is decomposed by hydrogen 

 sulphide, the filtrate evaporated to dryness, and the residue 

 taken up with absolute alcohol and precipitated by an 

 alcoholic solution of sodium picrate. The precipitate 



10 



