CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 251 



precipitate, which is soluble in excess, but on i-ubbing the 

 sides of the tube with a glass rod it reappears as yellow 

 needles. This is said to be a characteric test (Briegkk, 

 SCHTJLZB, 1893). 



The AuEOCHLOiiiDE, CJiijNOj.Cl.AuCla (Au = 43.12 

 per cent.), forms magnificent cholesterin-like plates, and is 

 easily soluble (Briegeu). The aurochloride from sugar- 

 beet is said to crystallize in needles or plates, and to be 

 difficultly soluble iu cold water (Scheibler, Lippmann). 

 The double salt of the ptomaine melts at 209°, and in this 

 it coincides with that obtained from beet-sugar, as well as 

 with that of the synthetically prepared base (Brieger). 

 The platinochloride is yellow and crystalline. 



Betaine is not poisonous. 



Muscarine, C^HijNOg = CJIigNO, + H^O, the -well- 

 known toxic principle which Schmiedeberg obtained 

 from poisonous mushroom (Agaricus rauscarius), has been 

 obtained also by Brieger in 1885 (I., 48) from haddock 

 which had been allowed to decompose for five days. The 

 process by which its isolation was effected is described on 

 page 258. This base is specially interesting, because of the 

 relation it bears to choline, for Schmiedeberg has shown 

 that it is formed when choline, or, better still, the platino- 

 chloride, is oxidized by concentrated nitric acid. It is 

 barely possible that Brieger's base is distinct from 

 Sohjiiedeberg's ; nevertheless, it closely resembles it and 

 apparently is identical. 



The Chloride, CjHi^NOj.Cl, is obtained on the decom- 

 position of the platinochloride Avith hydrogen sulphide, as 

 a syrupy residue, which, under the desiccator, shows a 

 tendency to gradually crystallize. It is deliquescent 

 (Harnack). 



The Platinochloride, (CJ-I,,NO,.ClXPtCl, (Pt = 

 30.08 per cent.), forms as a crystalline deposit of octahedra, 

 which are difficultly soluble in water. They lose their 

 water of crystallization (2H2O) only by means of strong 

 heating. 



The Aurochloride, C^IIj^NOj.Cl.AuClj, crystallizes 



