III. On a new series of bodies homologous to hydrocyanic acid.—III

The new cyanides isomeric with the nitriles, which I have described in two previous communications, are not formed exclusively by the action of chloroform on the primary monamines. On perusing the papers describing the examination of the organic cyanides, we see at a glance that the chemists who investigated them have had in their hands at the same time the isomeric cyanides with which I am engaged. In fact everyone who has distilled mixtures of sulphomethylate, sulphethylate, or sulphamylate of potassium with the cyanide of the same metal, will remember the repulsive odour possessed by the products so obtained. This odour only disappears in proportion as the product is purified, and especially after its treatment with acid, in order to remove the ammonia, and with oxide of mercury to separate the hydrocyanic acid.