534 poisons : their effects and detection. [§§ 706 - 708 . 
salts), but does not precipitate tetanine. The platinum salt of tetanine 
may, however, be precipitated by the addition of ether to the alcoholic 
solution. The platinum salt, as obtained by precipitation from ether, 
is very deliquescent \ it has, therefore, to be rapidly 7 filtered off and dried 
in a vacuum. It can then be recrystallised from hot 96 per cent, 
alcohol, forming clear yellow plates ; these plates, if dried in a vacuum, 
become with difficulty soluble in water. 
Tetanine may be obtained as a free base by treating the hydrochloride 
with freshly precipitated moist silver oxide. It forms a strongly alkaline 
yellow syrup, and is easily decomposed in acid solution, but is permanent 
in alkaline solutions. 
The platinochloride, as before observed, is precipitable by ether from 
alcoholic solution ; it contains 28-3 per cent, of platinum, and decom¬ 
poses at 197°. 
The base produces tetanus. 
§ 706. Tetanotoxine may be distilled, and be found in the distillate 
with other matters. It forms an easily soluble gold salt, melting-point 
130°. The platinochloride is soluble with difficulty, and decomposes 
at 240°. The hydrochloride is soluble in alcohol and in water, melting- 
point about 205°. 
Tetanotoxine produces tremor, then paralysis, and lastly, violent 
convulsions. 
§ 707. Mydatoxine, C 6 H 13 N0 2 .—A base obtained by Brieger from 
horse-flesh in a putrefactive condition, and other substances. It is found 
in the mercury chloride precipitate. The free base is an alkaline syrup, 
isomeric with the base separated by Brieger from tetanus cultures. The 
hydrochloride is a deliquescent syrup, not forming any compound with 
gold chloride, but uniting with phospho-molybdic acid in forming a 
compound crystallising in cubes. It forms a double salt with gold 
chloride, sparingly soluble in water. The platinochloride (Pt=29 per 
cent.) is very soluble in water, but not soluble in alcohol; melting-point 
193°, with decomposition. 
The base in large doses is poisonous, causing lachrymation, diarrhoea, 
and convulsions. 
§ 708. The Poison of Mussels. —Annually a certain number of 
people are seriously affected after eating mussels. One of the most 
thoroughly investigated series of cases occurred among the stevedores, 
in 1885, 1 at Wilhelmshafen. A number of the men collected mussels 
adhering to some of the vessels in the harbour, took them home, boiled 
them, and they and their families partook of the same. There were nine¬ 
teen serious cases of illness, of which four died. The symptoms occurred 
a few hours after the meal. There was a choking sensation, burning 
and tingling of the hands and feet. The speech was difficult,, and there 
1 Deutsche Med. Wochenschr., 1885. 
