MORRBUIC ACID. 319 



lachrymation and salivation become profuse, but not so excessive as 

 in the case of the muscarin-like ptomains. The temperature sinks 

 with the decrease in the rate of respiration, the ears previously 

 gorged become pale and cold, and the heart-action becomes irregular 

 and less frequent than before. General paralysis sets in, but the 

 head still moves upward and backward. External stimuli induce 

 violent clonic convulsions, the animal repeats frequently choking 

 movements, and at the same time yields large quantities of saliva ; 

 finally, it falls upon its side completely paralyzed and dies. The 

 heart stops in diastole, the intestines are pale and strongly contracted, 

 and the bladder is empty and contracted. 



Morrhuic Acid, CjHjjNOj , was obtained by Gautier and Mour- 

 gues (1888) from brown cod-liver oil, together with six bases already 

 described — namely, butylamin, amylamin, hexylamin, dihydrolutidin, 

 asellin, and morrhuin. These bases constitute about 0.2 per cent, of 

 the oil. The discoverers regard them as true leucomains, dissolved 

 from the hepatic cells by the oil. Bouillot found that the mixed 

 bases, or total basic product, in a dose of 0.25-0.15 g. in man increased 

 the volume of urine and the quantity of urea. By a microchemical 

 reaction, exposing sections of liver to the fumes of hydrochloric or 

 hydrofluoric acid, he detects the bases in the liver, especially in the 

 bile-ducts. The bases, therefore, exist preformed in the cod's liver, 

 and are derived from the bile. It is more probable, however, that 

 these compounds are the products of initial decomposition, and for 

 that reason they are described under the head of ptomains. 



This compound is relatively abundant, and is basic as well as acid 

 in character. It is resinous in appearance, and can be crystallized 

 in flattened prisms, or large lance-shaped plates. When freshly 

 precipitated it is oleaginous, viscous, then gradually hardens. It 

 possesses a disagreeable aromatic odor resembling that of the sea- 

 weeds upon which the fish feed. According to the discoverers, its 

 probable source is the lecithin derived thus from these weeds. It is 

 soluble in alcohol, and but slightly in ether. It reddens turmeric, 

 decomposes carbonates, and with acids forms salts which precipitate 

 lead acetate and silver nitrate, but not copper acetate, even on warming. 



The hydrochlorid is crystalline and is partially dissociated by 

 excess of water. The platinum salt is soluble and crystallizes in 

 very small cross-shaped prismatic needles. The gold salt is amor- 

 phous and is readily altered on heating. 



The properties of this compound show that it is of a pyridin 

 nature, and inasmuch as it does not give a precipitate with copper 

 acetate, it would appear that the carboxyl is not directly united to 

 the pyridin nucleus. This does not necessarily follow, now that we 

 know that some amido acids exist which do not give a reaction with 

 copper acetate (see page 287). Its pyridin nature is furthermore 



