MUSOAS.IN. 307 



It crystallizes from aqueous solution in raonoclinic plates, from hot 

 saturated 80 per cent, alcoholic solution in beautifiil prisms, often 

 several cm. long. It melts at 227°- 228° (Jahns). It is insoluble 

 in absolute alcohol. This fact can be made use of in their separa- 

 tion (Lippmann, Maxwell). It can, moreover, be easily separated 

 from other bases by its aurochlorid which is easily soluble. If a 

 little potassio-mercuric iodid is added to a solution of the chlorid, 

 there forms a light yellow or whitish oily precipitate, which is sol- 

 uble in excess, but on rubbing the sides of the tube with a glass rod 

 it reappears as yellow needles. This is said to be a characteristic 

 test (Brieger, Schulze, 1891). By the action of sodium amalgam 

 on aqueous solutions of the chlorid a base is formed, the platino- 

 chlorid of which in form, solubility, and composition agrees with 

 muscarin (Schmidt, Nothnagel). An iodid and a potassium iodid 

 compound are known (Wildstatter). 



The aurochlorid, C5Hj3NOj.Cl.AuCl, (Au = 43.12 per cent.), 

 forms magnificent cholesterin-like four-sided plates (or gold yellow 

 needles, Paulmann), and is easily soluble (Brieger). The aurochlorid 

 from sugar-beet is said to crystallize in needles and plates, and to 

 be difficultly soluble in cold water (Scheibler, Lippmann). The 

 double salt of the ptomain melts at 209° and in this it coincides 

 with that obtained from beet-sugar, as well as with that of the syn- 

 thetically prepared base (Brieger). According to Schiitte, it melts 

 at 218°, 220°- 222° ; at 223°- 225° (Siebert) ; at 220°- 221°, de- 

 composing at 222.5° (Paulmann) at 230°- 235° (Fischer) ; at 227° 

 (Emmerling). The platinochlorid, (C5H„N0j.HCl)j.PtCl„ is yellow, 

 crystallizes in prisms and is easily soluble (E.). On rapid cooling 

 of hot saturated solution or on precipitation with alcohol it forms 

 more or less anhydrous fine needles ; from cold saturated solution 

 over sulphuric acid it crystallizes in plates which effloresce in the air 

 (Jahns). It may crystallize with or without water. Liebreich and 

 Wildstatter obtained crystals with four molecules, while Paulmann 

 obtained crystals with one molecule of water. Jahns obtained the 

 salt with three molecules of water. 



Betain is not poisonous. It is precipitated with mercuric chlorid 

 together with cholin. Schulze and Frankfurt separate the mercury 

 salts of betain and cholin by partial crystallization ; betain is more 

 soluble. The two bases can be separated as chlorids by the solubil- 

 ity in absolute alcohol (Maxwell, Schulze and Frankfurt, Jahns). 



Muscarin, C^Hj^NOj = C^HjjNOj + ILf>, is the well-known 

 toxic principle which Schmiedeberg and Koppe obtained from poi- 

 sonous mushroom (Agaricus muscarius), in which it is present ac- 

 companied by cholin (Harnack). Bohm found cholin and muscarin 

 together in Boletus luridus and Amanita pantherina. Later, 

 Schmiedeberg isolated from a commercial specimen of muscarin 



