460 CHEMISTRY OF THE LEUGOMAINS. 



It is to be observed that this base differs in composition from the 

 following one by HON, the hydrocyanic acid molecule. 



A Base, G^^ll^'N^fi^, was obtained from the mother liquors of 

 cruso-creatinin, and forms rectangular silky plates, resembling those 

 of the preceding base and of xantho-creatinin. It forms crystalliz- 

 able salts. 



These complex bases, as already pointed out, require further study 

 in order to elucidate their chemical nature. The equations given 

 above, while they harmonize with Gautier's view as to the rdle of 

 HON cannot be looked upon as established facts. On the contrary 

 they are suggestive of the impurity of the substances examined. 



Methyl hydantoin, c^NA = co<( 1. T 



This substance was obtained by Guareschi and Mosso (1883), by 

 extracting fresh meat with 1-1.5 volumes of water (without addition 

 of acid), for two hours at 50° — 60°. The aqueous extract was evap- 

 orated on a water-bath and the residue was extracted with 95 per 

 cent, alcohol. This alcoholic solution, after the alcohol was driven 

 off, was first taken up in water, filtered, and the aqueous solution 

 was extracted with ether, then rendered alkaline with ammonia, 

 and again extracted with ether. The alkaline ether extract gave on 

 evaporation a white crystalline residue of methyl hydantoin. The 

 amount of this substance present in flesh appears to be quite vari- 

 able, since, at times, none whatever can be extracted. Albertoni 

 isolated it from a dog's flesh. Previous to its discovery in flesh by 

 Guareschi and Mosso, it was known for a long time as a decompo- 

 sition product of various nitrogenous bases of the body. Thus, 

 Neubauer prepared it by heating creatinin with barium hydrate, 

 while Huppert obtained it by fusing together sarcosin with urea. As 

 it occurs in muscle, it is probably derived from the creatin, though 

 under what conditions this splitting up takes place is not definitely 

 known. It may be due to an enzyme or to nitrous acid in which 

 case the change would correspond to the conversion of guanin into 

 xanthin. Acetic and lactic acids are incapable of effecting this change. 

 At all events, it belongs to the ureids, and is intermediate between 

 creatinin, sarcosin, and urea. Compare the above formula with that 

 of creatinin and methyl guanidin (p. 284). 



Methyl hydantoin forms prisms which are easily soluble in water 

 and alcohol, and but slightly soluble in cold ether. It melts at 

 156° (Salkowski); at 159°- 160° (Guareschi and Mosso). Its 

 aqueous solution is slightly acid in reaction. On strong heating it 

 volatilizes. When fused with potassium hydrate it gives off am- 

 monia ; it reduces mercuric nitrate in the cold. Treated with 



