DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF ANIMAL SUBSTANCES. 233 



pyridine series is to suppose that they are true basic nitryls, and that, for instance, 

 in pyridine itself, the tribasic radical C 10 H. replaces three atoms of hydrogen in 

 ammonia. The opinion thus expressed regarding the constitution of these bases, 

 and even the possibility of such compounds existing, is speculative, but at the same 

 time it is not altogether unsupported by facts, for though we have no bases in 

 which a tribasic radical exists, there certainly are instances in which two atoms 

 of hydrogen are replaced by a bibasic radical. A marked example is found in 

 Gerhardt's platinamine, although there the replacing substance is not a com- 

 pound but a simple radical. Its formula may be written thus : — 



£}* 



in which platinum is a bibasic radical replacing two equivalents of hydrogen. 

 Diplatinamine may in the same manner be represented, with its formula written 

 thus : — 



p Mn 



in which two equivalents of ammonia have been brought into play. Lastly, in 

 furfurine we have a purely organic base, formed from two equivalents of ammo- 

 nia by replacement of the whole of its hydrogen by three atoms of a compound 

 radical, its formula being — 



C 10 H 4 lN 2 

 C 10 H 4 0.) 



The view now expressed would make the constitution of the bases correspond 

 very closely with that of the acids, as explained by Gerhardt. According to 

 that chemist, a monobasic acid is formed from one atom of water (viewed as 

 H 2 0) by replacement of hydrogen by a monobasic radical, while a bibasic acid is 

 formed from two atoms of water, by the replacement of two atoms of hydrogen 

 b} r a bibasic radical. 



I have been led into these observations by a desire to explain in a more satis- 

 factory manner than our present knowledge of the bases will permit, the constitu- 

 tion of pyridine and its homologues ; but I am now about to enter upon a series 

 of experiments, with a view of obtaining some of the bases 



X"] X"l X'"}N 



Hj X"j^ 



the probable existence of which I have now indicated on theoretical grounds, 

 which may probably form the subject of a future communication. 



I may further mention, that I have found that the platinum salts of pyridine 

 and picoline undergo a peculiar decomposition when boiled, platinum bases of 

 very remarkable constitution being formed. I am extending this investigation to 

 the other bases, and hope that my experiments will, at no distant date, be suffi- 

 ciently advanced for publication. 



