A BASK 325 



The platinochlorid, on analysis, gave: Pt= 38.74, 0=10.83, 

 H = 3.23. It crystallizes in small needles, and is extremely soluble 

 in water. 



The hydrochlorid crystallizes with extreme difficulty, even on 

 standing for some time in a desiccator. On exposure to the air it 

 rapidly deliquesces. 



Mydalein has an entirely specific action. Small quantities injected 

 into guinea-pigs or rabbits produce, after a short time, a moistening 

 of the under lip, and an abundant flow of secretion from the nose 

 and eyes. The pupils dilate gradually to maximum and become 

 reactionless ; the ear-vessels become strongly injected, and the body 

 temperature rises 1° to 2°. The hairs bristle, and the animal occa- 

 sionally shudders. Gradually the salivation ceases, the respiration 

 and heart-action, which were at first hastened, now decrease, the 

 temperature falls, the ears become pale, and the animal finally re- 

 covers. During the action of the poison the animal shows a tend- 

 ency to sleep, and the peristaltic action of the intestines is heightened. 

 Larger doses (0.050 gram) induce an exceedingly violent action which 

 invariably results in the death of the animal. On post-mortem the 

 heart is found to be stopped in diastole, and the intestines and bladder 

 are contracted ; otherwise nothing abnormal is observed. 



A Toxic Base. — From human livers and spleens which were de- 

 composing for two weeks in thorough contact with air there was iso- 

 lated, besides cadaverin and putresoin, a small quantity of poisonous 

 base (Brieger, II., 29, 48). The mercuric chlorid precipitate was de- 

 composed, and the hydrochlorids were precipitated by gold chlorid 

 (to remove cadaverin, which is soluble), and the aurochlorid was 

 then changed into platinum salt, whereby the insoluble putrescin 

 platinochlorid was removed. In the mother-liquor from the putres- 

 cin salt an easily soluble platinum compound was detected and 

 found to contain 41.30 per cent. Pt. It crystallized in fine needles. 

 The hydrochlorid formed small, readily deliquescent needles, and did 

 not produce a precipitate in alcoholic platinum chlorid. Injected 

 into guinea-pigs and rabbits it induced an exalted peristalic action 

 of the intestines, which lasted several days and produced in the 

 animals, on account of the continuous evacuations, a condition of 

 great weakness. No disturbance in the functions of the other organs 

 was observed. 



A Base was isolated from decomposing haddock which were ex- 

 posed for five days during summer in an open iron vessel. Brieger (I., 

 42) found in the aqueous mercuric chlorid precipitate (see page 135) 

 a base the hydrochlorid of which crystallized in well formed, small 

 needles. The platinochlorid likewise crystallized in beautiful needles 

 and gave, on analysis, 36.03 per cent, of Pt; 7.81 per cent, of N. 



