OADAVEBIN. 275 



erin is converted into a toxic base, can take place under the influence 

 of bacteria during the process of putrefaction, or not. However, it 

 does not seem improbable that this simple chemical change should 

 be effected through the action of living organisms ; for Schmidt has 

 already shown that the almost physiologically indifferent cholin, 

 when subjected to the action of the bacteria of hay-infusion, decom- 

 poses into a neurin-like base possessing a muscarin-like action, and 

 under certain conditions it yields a base which in its action resembles 

 pilocarpin. 



The sulphate likewise forms beautiful, well-formed needles, and in 

 its solubility corresponds to the hydrochlorid. 



The platinochlorid, C5Hi,N2.2HCl.PtCl, (Pt = 38.08 per cent.), 

 crystallizes after some time, on the addition of platinum chlorid, to 

 a not too concentrated solution of the hydrochlorid, in the form of 

 long, beautiful orange-red needles (Bocklisch). Ordinarily it is ob- 

 tained at first in long, dirty-red needles, which on repeated recrys- 

 tallization become clearer and assume a form similar to that of 

 ammonium platinochlorid. It forms chrome-yellow rhombic prisms 

 which are short and octahedral-like. Variation in the crystalline 

 form is observed here as in the case of the mercury compounds. In 

 polarized light they are strongly double refracting. It is very 

 slightly soluble in cold water ; can be recrystallized from hot water 

 (Bocklisch). Its solubility in water at 12° is 1 to 113-114 ; at 21° 

 it is 1 to 70.8 (Gulewitsch). It is soluble in alcohol. It decom- 

 poses at 235°-236°. It does not lose weight at 125°-135° ; at 

 195° it begins to darken and melts with decomposition at 215° 

 (Gulewitsch). 



The aurochlorid, C,Hj,]Sr2.2Ha.2AuCl3 (Au = 50.41 per cent.), 

 crystallizes partly in cubes, and partly in long needles which at first 

 possess a bright lustre, but under the desiccator soon effloresce and 

 become opaque. It crystallizes from water acidulated with hydro- 

 chloric acid, in plates or in large, long, very pretty orange-yellow 

 flat prisms. On rapid crystallization bright platelets form (Gule- 

 witsch). The water of crystallization is completely removed on 

 standing over sulphuric acid. It is very easily soluble, and melts at 

 188° (Bocklisch); 186°-188° (Gulewitsch). 



The picrate, C5Hi^Nj.2CjH2(N02)30H, forms yellow plates which 

 are difficultly soluble in cold water. From hot water it crystallizes 

 in long prisms, which melt at 221° with decomposition. When 

 crystallized from 95 per cent, alcohol it forms long yellow needles, 

 which are difficultly soluble in cold, more easily in hot 95 per cent, 

 alcohol. It is insoluble, or very difficultly so, in absolute alcohol, 

 and can be recrystallized from hot dilute alcohol. 



Cadaverin hydrochlorid combines with mercuric chlorid, when the 

 aqueous solutions of these two salts are mixed in the molecular ratio 

 of 1 to 4, to form C5Hj^]Srj.2HC1.3HgClj. This salt can be recrys- 



