MUSCARIN. 309 



counteracts its action. In mammals the pulse is lowered as a result 

 of stimulation of the central vagus ganglia. The blood pressure is 

 not lowered as is the case in muscarin, but is somewhat raised. 

 Neither the intestines nor the iris of mammals is affected. The iris 

 of birds is contracted as with muscarin, and the glands are affected. 

 In cats and guinea-pigs salivation and flow of tears result. Like 

 all ammonium bases it has a marked curara action. 



A fifth base, resembling fungus- and cholin-muscarin in the form, 

 solubility and composition of the platinochlorid, was obtained by the 

 action of sodium amalgam on aqueous solutions of betain cUorid 

 (Schmidt). 



Lastly, Brieger in 1885 (I., 48) isolated a muscarin base from 

 haddock which had been allowed to decompose for five days. The 

 process by which its isolation was effected is described on page 315. 

 Gulewitsch isolated a small amoimt of a substance resembling mus- 

 carin, together with cholin and cadaverin, from horse-flesh kept at 

 15° for four months. 



It is barely possible that Brieger's base is distinct from Schmiede- 

 berg's ; nevertheless, it closely resembles it and apparently is iden- 

 tical. 



The chlorid, CjHj^NOj.Cl, is obtained on the decomposition of the 

 platinochlorid with hydrogen sulphid, as a syrupy residue which, 

 under the desiccator, shows a tendency to crystallize gradually 

 (Brieger). It is deliquescent (Harnack). A commercial muscarin 

 sulphate was found to be chiefly cholin (Nothnagel). 



The platinochlorid, (C5H„N02.Cl)2PtCl^ (Pt = 30.08 per cent., 

 Brieger), forms a crystalline deposit of more or less well-formed octa- 

 hedra, pinhead in size, which are difficultly soluble in water. They 

 lose their water of crystallization (2H2O) only on strong heating 

 (Brieger, Nothnagel). It melts at about 240° with decomposition. 



The aurochlorid, CjH^NOjj.Cl.AuCl, (Au= 42.82 per cent.), 

 crystallizes in needles, and is difficultly soluble in water (Brieger) ; 

 more difficultly soluble than the cholin double salt (Harnack). 

 From hot hydrochloric acid water it crystallizes as light-yellow, 

 glistening platelets (Nothnagel). It is scarcely to be distinguished 

 from the corresponding salt of cholin (Nothnagel). It begins to run 

 together at 174°, gradually melts and decomposes at 232°. It 

 has no water of crystallization. The separation of muscarin and 

 cholin is very difficult. Harnack separated the two by spreading 

 the mixed chlorids on a filter paper which absorbed the muscarin 

 salt. Nothnagel separated the two bases as platinochlorids by re- 

 peated recrystallization from hot water and washing the crystals 

 with cold water. The platinochlorid of cholin is easily soluble in 

 water. 



Physiological Aetion. — Small doses of this ptomain induce in 

 frogs total paralysis, with stoppage of the heart in diastole, and this 



