§ 337-1 NICOTINE. 279 
caustic lye, and then hydrochloric acid added, a crystalline hydrochlorate 
of coniine is formed, which doubly refracts light, and is in needle-shaped 
or columnar crystals, or dendritic, moss-like forms. The columns after¬ 
wards become torn, and little rows of cubical, octahedral, and tetrahedral 
crystals (often cross- or dagger-shaped) grow out of yellow amorphous 
masses. Crystalline forms of this kind are rare, save in the case of 
dilute solutions of chloride of ammonium (the presence of the latter is, 
of course, rendered by the treatment impossible); and nicotine does not 
give anything similar to this reaction. 
2. Coniine coagulates albumen ; nicotine does not. 
3. Nicotine yields a characteristic crystalline precipitate with an 
aqueous solution of mercuric chloride ; the similar precipitate of coniine 
is amorphous. 
4. An alcoholic solution of coniine mixed with carbon disulphide 
is coloured yellow—nicotine is not; on adding to the solution a few drops 
of a dilute solution of copper sulphate (1 : 200) or ferric chloride, coniine 
precipitates yellow or brown—nicotine does not precipitate. On dissolv¬ 
ing nicotine, even in traces, in epi-chlor-hydrin and heating to boiling, a 
deep red colour is produced ; coniine gives no colour. 1 
§ 337. Effects on Animals. —Nicotine is rapidly fatal to all animal 
life—from the lowest to the highest forms. Very minute quantities in 
water kill infusoria. Fish of 30 grms. weight die in a few minutes 
from a milligramme of nicotine ; the symptoms observed are rapid move¬ 
ments, then shivering and speedy paralysis, with decreased motion of 
the gills, and death. With frogs, if doses not too large are employed, 
there is first great restlessness, then strong tetanic convulsions, and a 
very peculiar position of the limbs ; the respiration after fatal doses 
soon ceases, but the heart beats even after death. Birds also show 
tetanic convulsions followed by paralysis and speedy death. The 
symptoms witnessed in mammals poisoned by nicotine are not essentially 
dissimilar. With large doses the effect is similar to that of prussic 
acid—viz. a cry, one or two shuddering convulsions, and death. If the 
dose is not too large, there is trembling of the limbs, excretion of faeces 
and urine, a peculiar condition of stupor, a staggering gait, and then 
the animal falls on its side. The respiration, at first quickened, is 
afterwards slowed, and becomes deeper than natural; the pulse, also, 
with moderate doses, is first slowed, then rises in frequency, and, finally, 
again falls. Tetanic convulsions soon develop ; during the tetanus the 
pupils have been noticed to be contracted, but afterwards dilated ; the 
tongue and mouth are livid, and the vessels of the ear dilated. Very 
characteristic of nicotine poisoning as witnessed in the cat, the rabbit, 
and the dog, is its peculiarly violent action, for after the administration 
of from one to two drops the whole course from the commencement of 
1 H. Melzer, Zeit. anal, Chem , 1898, pp. 350-358. 
