268 BACTEEIAL POISONS. 



(see page 255). Tetanine resembles mytilotoxine with 

 respect to this loss of toxicity on standing. 



The Platinochloride, C,3H3„N20,.2HCl.PtCI, (Pt = 

 28.33 per cent.), is easily soluble in absolute alcohol from 

 which it is precipitated on the addition of ether. From 

 ninety-six per cent, alcohol it crystallizes in clear yellow 

 plates. After repeated recrystallization from alcohol and 

 drying in vacuo it beco^nes difficultly soluble in water so 

 that it can be recrystallized from the latter. It decomposes 

 at 197°. 



This base produces the characteristic, though probably 

 not all the symptoms of tetanus, since we know of at least 

 three other toxines (pages 194, 195) which occur with teta- 

 nine in cultures of the tetanus microbe. The symptoms 

 induced by relatively large doses in warm-blooded animals, 

 as mice, guinea-pigs, and rabbits, exhibit two distinct phases. 

 In the first, the animal is thrown into a lethargic paralytic 

 condition, then suddenly becomes uneasy, and the respira- 

 tion becomes more frequent. This is followed by the second 

 phase, in which tonic and clonic convulsions, especially the 

 former, predominate till death results. 0.5 gramme has 

 but slight action ou guinea-pigs. Small doses do not 

 seem to affect guinea-pigs, while frogs seem to be much 

 less sensitive than mice. The characteristic convulsions 

 and opisthotonus seen in tetanus in man are also produced 

 in guinea-pigs on injection of large doses of this base. Dogs 

 and horses seem to be but slightly sensitive to the action of 

 this poison. 



A Base, C,<X2„N20^, was isolated by Guakeschi in 

 1887 from putrid fibrin. It occurs in the chloroform or 

 ether extracts along with the base Cj^HjjN, and is probably 

 an amido-acid (see page 201). 



A Base, C^HigNjOj, was isolated by Pouchet in 1884. 

 It is said to form short, thick prisms which become brown 

 when exposed to light. 



The Platinochloride, (CjHisNPj.HCOjPtCl,, crys- 

 tallizes in prismatic needles which are insoluble in strong 



