CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 257 



choliue, by treating glycerin monocblorhydrine with tri- 

 methylamine. This base, trimethyl-glyceryl-ammonium 

 hydrate, has this structure : 



CHjjOH 



I 

 CHOII 



I 



I 

 N(CH3)30H. 



It would seem that Hankiot's base might possibly be 

 identical with mytilotoxine, but a careful comparison made 

 by Bhibger showed that it possesses no physiological action 

 and that its chemical reactions are entirely different. 



Mytilotoxine would, therefore, seem to possess the for- 

 mula, CgHj^NOj, as originally given it by Brieger. From 

 the fact that on distillation with potassium hydrate it yields 

 trimethylamiue, it follows that mytilotoxine is a quarter- 

 nary base. He is inclined to regard it as a methyl deriva- 

 tive of betaine, which is so common in mussels, and repre- 

 sents it by formula No. 1. 



(1) (2) 



CO,II CH,OII 



I I 



CH.CH^ CH.CII3 



N(CH3)3.0H N(CH3)3.0H 



No. 1, however, is C5H15NO3, instead of CgHjaNO.,, as 

 above. The formula No. 2, CjHjjNO.,, would represent 

 a derivative of choline or muscarine, with only a slightly 

 higher percentage of hydrogen. 



The AuR0CHLORiDE,C5H,5NO,.HCl.AuCl3(Au = 41.66 

 per cent.), crystallizes in cubes. Its melting-point is 182°. 



It is well to observe that Brieger has been unable to 

 obtain this base from mussels that were allowed to putrefy 

 for sixteen days. 



Physiological Aclion. — According to Brieger, mytilo- 

 toxine produces all the (characteristic effects seen in mussel 



