CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINES. 271 



containing four or five carbon atoms, and hence is nearly 

 related to some of the diamines already described. 



The Platinochlouide, on analysis, gave : Pt = 38.74 

 C =10.83, H = 3.23. It crystallizes in small needles, and 

 is extremely soluble in water. 



The Hydrochloride crystallizes with extreme dif- 

 ficulty, even on standing for some time in a desiccator. On 

 exposure to the air it rapidly deliquesces. 



Physiological Action. — Mydaleine has an entirely specific 

 action. Small quantities injected into guinea-pigs or 

 rabbits produce, after a short time, a moistening of the 

 under lip, and an abundant flow of secretion from the nose 

 and eyes. The pupils dilate gradually to maximum, and 

 become reactionless ; the ear vessels become strongly in- 

 jected, and the body temperature rises 1° to 2°. The hairs 

 bristle, and the animal occasionally shudders. Gradually 

 the salivation ceases, the respiration and heart-action, which 

 were at first hastened, now decrease, the temperature falls, 

 the ears become pale, and the animal finally recovers. 

 During the action of the poison the animal shows a ten- 

 dency to sleep, and the peristaltic action of the intestines is 

 heightened. Larger doses (0.050 gramme) induce an ex- 

 ceedingly violent action, which invariably results in the 

 death of the animal. On post-mortem, the heart is found 

 to be stopped in diastole, and the intestines and bladder 

 contracted ; otherwise nothing abnormal is observed. 



A Toxic Base. — From human livers and spleens which 

 were decomposing for two weeks in thorough contact with 

 air there was isolated, besides cadaveriue and putresciue, a 

 small quantity of a poisonous base (Brieger, II., 29, 48). 

 The mercuric chloride precipitate was decomposed, and the 

 hydrochlorides were precipitated by gold chloride (to re- 

 move cadaveriue, which is soluble), and the aurochloride 

 was then changed into the platinum salt, whereby the in- 

 soluble putrescine platinochloride was removed. In the 

 mother-liquors from the putrescine salt an easily soluble 

 platinum conipoimd was separated, and found to contain 

 41.30 per cent. Pt. It crystallized in fine needles. The 



