128 
DR. A. W. HOFMANN’S RESEARCHES REGARDING THE 
Cumidine . 
Methyloxylidine . . 
Ethylotoluidine . . 
Dimethylotoluidine . 
f “ 1 
' H 
HjJ 
H 
N 
Co Ho N 
N 
-Ci6 HgJ 
f 1 
C 4 H 5 
lCi4 HyJ 
'Q H3. 
C, HglN 
■Cl4 Hy 
^ — Cjg H 43 N. 
Propylaniline . . 
Methylethylaniline 
|c, hJn 
ICi, H 5 J 
[ C2 Hg-j 
C 4 H >N 
IC42 II5J J 
This multiplicity of course augments in the same measure as we ascend upon the 
scale of organic compounds. For every step the number of possible isomeric bases 
increases by two, so that on arriving at the term diamylaniline, 
C 32 H 27 N, 
being the last member (v?de p. 124 ) in the aniline-series which I have examined, we 
find that its numerical formula actually represents not less than twenty different 
alkaloids which the progress of science cannot fail to call into existence, — a striking 
illustration of the simplicity in variety that characterizes the creations of organic 
chemistry. 
Not less numerous will be the isomerisms in the series of bases derived by the 
insertion into ammonia of the alcohol-radicals C„ only, as soon as the group of 
these alcohols themselves shall be more completely known. Ethylamine is isomeric 
with dimethylamine ; diethylamine has the same composition as methylopropyl- 
amine, a base containing ethyl and propyl, the alcohol-radical in the propionic (meta- 
cetic) series, as dimethylethylamine, and lastly, as butylamine. Some chemists are 
actually inclined to consider as such a volatile alkaloid discovered by Dr. Anderson* 
among the products of the distillation of animal substances, and described by him 
under the name of petinine. The formula established by Dr. Anderson is 
Cg H 40 N; 
but it is not unlikely that on repeating the analysis an additional hydrogen-equivalent 
* Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, xvi. 4. 
