230 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



green. It is not hygroscopic, and possesses a density of about 

 1.05. On heating it melts to a viscid yellowish fluid, pos- 

 sessing an aromatic odor ; is non-volatile. Although almost 

 insoluble in water, it imparts to it an alkaline reaction and 

 a bitter taste. It is soluble in ether, more so in alcohol. 



The salts are crystallizable, but are partially dissociated 

 by the action of warm water. The hydrochloride forms 

 crossed or entangled needles which are quite bitter. The 

 gold salt is very reducible. The platinochloride, QjHjjN^. 

 2HCl.PtCl4 (Pt= 24.41), is orange-yellow in color; solu- 

 ble in warm waler, insoluble in cold water (separation 

 from morrhuine, p. 228), and is i-apidly changed by boiling 

 water. The mercury salt is precipitated in the cold ; redis- 

 solves on heating, and then, on cooling, recrystallizes. 



In large doses it produces fatigue, short and rapid respi- 

 ration, and stupor. Three milligrammes of the hydro- 

 chloride kills a greenfinch in fourteen minutes. 



Mydine, CjHjjT^O, is a non-poisonous base whicli 

 was obtained by Beieoee in 1886 (III., 25) from the 

 putrefaction of about two hundred pounds of human in- 

 ternal organs ; and also in cultures of the Ebeeth bacillus 

 on peptonized blood-serum. It occurs in the mercuric 

 chloride filtrate, and is isolated from it after the removal 

 of the mercur}' by hydrogen sulphide, by precipitation with 

 phosphomolybdic acid. The gummy precipitate which is 

 produced is decomposed on the water-bath with a solution 

 of neutral lead acetate, and the filtrate on evaporation j'ields 

 a colorless hydrochloride, crystallizing in plates. It is 

 purified by recrystallization of the picrate. 



The free base is strongly alkaline, and possesses an am- 

 moniacal odor. It is characterized by its strong reducing 

 proj)erties. The name mydine is derived from iiv6aa, to 

 putrefy. With platinum chloride it gives, after a time, an 

 extremely soluble salt ; with gold chloride, a precipitate of 

 metallic gold. On distillation it is decomposed. 



The Hydrochloeiue, CgHnNO.HCl, crystallizes in 

 colorless plates. It gives a blue color with ferric chloride 

 and potassium ferricyanide. 



