CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 265 



A Base, CjHi^N.O^, was obtained by Pouchet (1884) 

 from the residual liquors resulting from an industrial treat- 

 ment of d6bris of bones, flesh, and waste of all kinds, with 

 dilute sulphuric acid. It is accompanied by another base, 

 CjHjjNjOj, from which it can be separated by treatment 

 with alcohol. The base itself forms tufts of delicate needles 

 which alter or decompose less easily than the accompanying 

 base. The platinochloride, (C5H,,N,p,.HClXPtCl„ forms 

 a dull yellow powder, somewhat soluble in strong alcohol, 

 but insoluble in ether. The platinochloride (CjHigNjOg. 

 HCl^PtCl^ is insoluble in ether. 



The hydrochlorides of these bases form silky needles 

 which are altered by excess of hydrochloric acid and by 

 exposure to air. Pouohet considers them to be closely 

 allied to the oxy-betaines. The general alkaloidal reagents 

 precipitate these bases ; the phosphomolybdic precipitate, 

 on addition of ammonia, gives a blue tint. Both bases are 

 toxic, and exert a paralyzing action upon the reflex move- 

 ments. 



The method employed by Pouchet for their isolation 

 was to precipitate them as tanuates. The precipitate was 

 decomposed by lead hydrate in the presence of strong 

 alcohol, the excess of lead removed from the solution by 

 hydrogen sulphide, aud the clear liquid thus obtained was 

 submitted to dialysis. The above bases occurred in the 

 dialysate. In the non-dialyzable portion volatile bases 

 were found probably identical with those described by 

 Gautieb and Etard. 



Tetanine, CijHjjNjO^, was obtained in 1886 by 

 Bribgee (III., 94) by cultivating impure tetanus microbes 

 of RoSENBACH, in an atmosphere of hydrogen on beef- 

 broth for eight days at 37°-38°. It likewise occurs in 

 cultures on brain-broth. Later (April, 1888), Brieger 

 succeeded in obtaining tetanine from the amputated arm 

 of a tetanus patient, identical in its physiological action 

 and chemical reactions with that isolated from cultures 

 of Rosenbach's germs on beef-broth. The presence of 

 tetanine during life in tetanus patients has thus been 



