CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 221 



tated the greater part of the cadaverine. The mother- 

 liquor, on concentration, yielded a mixture of the platino- 

 chlorides of cadaverine and saprine. Each successive crop 

 contained more of the saprine double salt. The two kinds 

 of crystals were now separated by means of a magnifying- 

 glass. The saprine platinochloride thus obtained was finally 

 purified by repeated recrystallizatiou from water. The 

 mother-liquor, after the removal of the saprine platino- 

 chloride, contains the mydaleine salt, whicli, on account of 

 its solubility in water, crystallizes only on concentration, 

 or on standing under a desiccator. The mercuric ('hloride 

 filtrate contains some mydaleine and the ptomaine, which 

 yields a platinochloride containing 28.40 per cent, platinum. 



The free base is a diamine, and was first ascribed the 

 formula CjHigNj. It appears, however, to be isomeric 

 with cadaverine and neuridine. The term saprine is derived 

 from the Greek aairpdc^ signifying putrid. It possesses a 

 weak pyridine-lilce odor, and can be distilled with steam or 

 with potassium hydrate without undergoing decomposition. 

 In its reactions it behaves the same as cadaverine, except 

 that it gives an amorphous precipitate with potassium- 

 bismuth iodide, whereas cadaverine gives a crystalline pre- 

 cipitate. The free base gives an immediate intense blue 

 color with ferric chloride and potassium ferricyanide. 



The Hydrochloride, C5H,4N2.2HC1, forms flat needles 

 which are not hygroscopic (distinction from cadaverine 

 hydrochloride). Its reactions are the same as those of 

 cadaverine hydrochloride (see Table I.). It is, however, 

 tinged slightly blue by a mixture of ferric chloride and 

 potassium ferricyanide, whereas the free base gives an 

 intense blue. It differs from cadaverine in that it does uot 

 give the reddish-brown color with potassium bichromate 

 and sulphuric acid. Again, it forms no aurochloride ; 

 while, on the other hand, cadaverine hydrochloride yields 

 an easily soluble salt, crystallizing in splendid needles. 



The Platinochloride, C5Hi4]Sr2.2HCl.PtCl„ forms 

 parallel, aggregated, pointed crystals, which are somewhat 

 soluble in water, and are thus distinguished from cadaverine 



