CHEMISTRY OF THE LEUCOMAINES. 339 



thinks it may be possibly a combination of creatine, 

 C^H9N302, and a base C5H,|,N^02, which, it will be seen, 

 differs from the former only by a HCN group. This 

 second compound, if it really exists, has an analogy in 

 cruso-creatinine, the relation of which to creatinine may be 

 expressed by the equation : 



CsHgN.O = C.HyNjO+HCN. 



Gbuso-creatininb. Creatinine. 



In a similar manner, amphi-creatine may be regarded as 



Amphi-creatinb. Creatine. 



A Base, CiiH24N,(|05, was isolated by Gadtibe from 

 the mother-liquors of xantho-creatinine. It crystallizes in 

 colorless or yellowish, thin, apparently rectangular plates, 

 which are tasteless, and possess an amphoteric reaction. 

 The hydrochloride forms bundles of fine needles ; the sul- 

 phate yields a confused mass of needles ; the platinochlo- 

 ride is soluble, non-deliquescent, and crystalline. , When 

 heated with water in a sealed tube at 180°-200°, it gives 

 off ammonia and carbonic acid, and is converted into a 

 new base, which, however, has not been studied. This 

 reaction may be expressed by the equation : 



C„H2,N.oO, = 2C,Hj„N,02+CO(NH,)2. 



Urea. 



The urea which at first forms, is, in turn, decomposed, 

 thus : 



CO(NH2)2+H20 = CO2+2NH3. 



It is to be observed that this base differs iu composition 

 from the following cue by HON, the hydrocyanic acid 

 molecule. 



A Base, CijHjjNjiOj, was obtained from the mother- 

 liquors of cruso-creatinine, and forms rectangular silky 

 plates, resembling those of the preceding base and of 

 xantho-creatinine. It forms crystallizable salts. 



These complex bases will require further study in order 



