GADININ. 315 



No. 1, however, is CgHjjNOj, instead of CgHj^NO^, as above, 

 and has been referred to under mydatoxin. The formula No. 2, 

 CgHjjNOj, may be taken to represent more correctly this base. On 

 comparing these formulae it would appear that mydatoxin (1) is an 

 oxidation product of mytilotoxin (2). The latter in turn would be a 

 homologue of betain aldehyde (p. 311), and hence a derivative of 

 cholin or muscarin. 



According to Brieger, mytilotoxin produces all the characteristic 

 effects seen in mussel poisoning. In its paralyzing action it resem- 

 bles curara. This action is explainable now that Glause and Luch- 

 singer have shown that all trimethyl ammonium bases have a mus- 

 carin-like action. For the symptoms induced by poisonous mussel 

 see page 190. 



Gadinin, C^Hj^O^, was found in haddock (1885) which were 

 allowed to decompose in open iron vessels for five days during sum- 

 mer. Brieger also obtained it from cultures of the bacteria of 

 human feces on gelatin. Carbone found it in cultures of the 

 Proteus vulgaris. The decomposing mass was thoroughly stirred 

 every day in order to bring it into contact with atmospheric oxygen 

 (Brieger, I., 49). It was then treated with water, and hydrochloric 

 acid was added to acid reaction. After being warmed the mixture 

 was filtered and the filtrate concentrated on the water-bath to a 

 syrupy consistency. This syrupy residue was extracted with water, 

 and the aqueous solution was precipitated with mercuric chlorid. 

 This mercuric chlorid precipitate contained a base, the quantity 

 of which, however, was insufficient for a complete analysis (see 

 page 325). The mercuric chlorid filtrate, after the removal of 

 the mercury by hydrogen sulphid, was evaporated to a syrup, 

 and this was then repeatedly extracted with alcohol. The alco- 

 holic solution thus obtained contained neuridin, a base of the same 

 composition as ethylendiamin, muscarin, gadinin, and triethyl- 

 amin. These bases were separated in the following manner : The 

 alcoholic solution gave with platinum chlorid a precipitate of neuridin. 

 The filtrate from this platinum precipitate was heated on the water- 

 bath to expel the alcohol after which the platinum was removed by 

 hydrogen sulphid. The aqueous filtrate was concentrated to a small 

 volume which, on addition of platinum chlorid, gave a precipitate 

 of the isomer of ethylendiamin. The mother-liquor from this pre- 

 cipitate was concentrated on a water-bath, and on cooling the platino- 

 chlorid of muscarin crystallized oat. From the mother-liquor of 

 this precipitate on standing in a desiccator, the gadinin double salt 

 crystallized. The mother-liquor from the ^idinin platinochlorid was 

 treated with hydrogen sulphid to remove the platinum, and the 

 aqueous filtrate on distillation with potassium hydrate gave triethyl- 

 amin. 



