286 CHEMISTRY OF THE PTOMAINS. 



subcutaneously to a guinea-pig produced in two and a half hours a 

 loss of 13.5 grams in the weight of the animal. The same effect is 

 produced in birds. Strong doses (0.1 gram per kilogram) produce 

 fatigue and hebetude. 



A Base, CjjHjjN^, was obtained as early as 1868 by Oser, who 

 observed its formation during the fermentation of pure cane-sugar 

 by means of yeast. The hydrochlorid when dried in vacuo is said 

 to form a white, very hygroscopic foliaceous mass which soon be- 

 comes brown on exposure to air. At first it imparts a burning taste 

 which is soon replaced by a very bitter sensation. 



A Base corresponding to the formula Cj^Hj^N^ was obtained by 

 Grautier and Etard from the mother-liquors of the platinochlorid of 

 the base CgHjjN. Very little is known, however, in regard to the 

 general properties of this base owing to the small quantify which 

 could be isolated. This base and the one obtained by Oser from the 

 yeast fermentation of sugar, C^gHj^N^ , and asellin, CjjHjjN^, are the 

 only ptomains thus far isolated which are known to contain four 

 atoms of nitrogen. 



The platinochlorid, CiyH3gN^.2HCl.PtCl^ (Pt= 27.52 per cent.), 

 is readily soluble and crystallizes in needles which possess a light- 

 yellow flesh color. When heated to 100°, it slowly decomposes 

 giving off a syringa-like odor. 



Asellin, C^gHj^N^, was isolated by Gautier and Mourgues (1888), 

 together with five other bases, from cod-liver oil. It is present only 

 in small quantity in the oil. The name is derived from Asellus 

 major, the great codfish. The free base is thrown down from the 

 solutions of the hydrochlorid by the addition of alkali, in amorphous 

 white floccules which are almost insoluble in water. It is almost 

 colorless, but on exposure to the air becomes slightly green. It is 

 not hygroscopic, and possesses a density of about 1.05. On heating 

 it melts to a viscid yellowish fluid, possessing an aromatic odor ; it 

 is non- volatile. Although almost insoluble in water, it imparts to this 

 an alkaline reaction and a bitter taste. It is soluble in ether, more 

 so in alcohol. 



The salts are crystallizable, but are partially dissociated by the 

 action of warm water. The hydrochlorid forms crossed or entangled 

 needles which are quite bitter. The gold salt is very reducible. 

 The platinochlorid, C25H32N,.2HCl.PtCl^ (Pt = 24.41), is orange- 

 yellow in color; soluble in warm water, insoluble in cold water 

 (separation from morrhuin, p. 285), and is rapidly changed by boil- 

 ing water. The mercury salt is precipitated in the cold, redissolves 

 on heating, and then, on cooling, recrystallizes. 



In large doses it produces fatigue, short and rapid respiration, 

 and stupor. Three milligrams of the hydrochlorid killed a green- 

 finch in fourteen minutes. 



