DESTRUCTIVE DISTILLATION OF ANIMAL MATTERS. 583 



immediately precipitated when bichloride of platinum is added to a solution of 

 the hydrochlorate of parapicoline, as a pale yellow powder, almost insoluble in 

 water. The results of the analysis were as follows : — 



\{l 



317 grains of platinochloride of parapicoline gave 

 059 ... platinum. 



•102 grains of platinochloride of parapicoline gave 



Ai " ) 1-970 



platinum. 













Experin 



lent. 





Calculation. 







I. 



II. 









Carbon, . 



. . . 





24-07 



C 12 



72 



Hydrogen, 







2-68 



H s 



8 



Nitrogen, 







4-67 



N 



14 



Chlorine, 







35-59 



Cl 3 



106-5 



Platinum, 



. 32-59 



32-28 



32-98 



Pt 



98-7 



100-00 299-2 



These numbers correspond with the formula C 12 H 7 N HC1 PtCl 2 , which is 

 that of the picoline salt ; and the analysis would thus lead us to the conclu- 

 sion that parapicoline is strictly isomeric with that base. But when its high 

 boiling point and other properties are taken into consideration, it is impossible 

 to resist the inference, that its real constitution must be different ; and I believe 

 it ought to be represented by the formula C 2 . t H u N 2 , and that it is produced by the 

 combination of two equivalents of picoline. Unfortunately the high boiling point 

 of parapicoline precludes the determination of the specific gravity of its vapour ; 

 and as it is not possible in any other way to establish its true constitution, we 

 are compelled to assume, as the most probable hypothesis, that it is produced 

 by a species of reduplication, of which we have already numerous examples in the 

 other classes of organic compounds, although this is the first instance in which 

 it has been observed among the bases. The conversion of cyanic into cyanuric 

 acid is a completely analogous case, the more especially as the three equivalents 

 of cyanic acid which have combined retain their power of neutralizing as many 

 equivalents of base. The simultaneous production of amilene, paramilene, and 

 metamilene, during the action of sulphuric acid on amylic alcohol, may also be 

 referred to as cases in which a somewhat similar reduplication occurs. It is very 

 difficult to explain the mode in which the sodium produces the combination of 

 the two equivalents of picoline, but it may possibly be due to a species of catalytic 

 action, as a large quantity of the sodium employed is always recovered un- 

 changed. A certain quantity of it, however, enters into some sort of combination 

 with the picoline or parapicoline, to produce the resinous compound already 

 mentioned; and it appears most likely that this substance is a sodiopicoline, 

 represented by the formula C 12 H 6 Na N, in which an equivalent of hydrogen has 

 been replaced by sodium. The action of water upon the resinous matter would 

 then be represented by the following equation : — 



VOL. XXI. PART IV. 7 S 



