Creatine
methyl-glycocyamine.
Methyl-guanido-acetic acid, C4H9NO2 + H₂O, or HN=C = CN (CH₃) -CH2-CO OH.
ΝΗ2 Creatine is obtained from the muscular flesh of mammalia, birds, reptiles, and fishes. It has been found in the blood and urine, and brains of pigeons and dogs.
It is obtained by chopping up the lean muscular flesh, removing the fat, and rubbing it with water and pressing it; the liquid is heated in a water-bath to coagulate the albumen, then strained; to the filtrate baryta-water is added, so long as it gives a precipitate, the filtrate concentrated on a water-bath, the crystals, which separate, decolorized by animal charcoal and re-crystallized from water.
Creatine crystallizes in rhombic needles containing one molecule of water, which is driven off at 100°. The water solution has a bitter taste, and is neutral to litmus. It gives a white precipitate with silver nitrate, which is soluble in potash.
After a time the solution solidifies to a transparent gelatinous mass, which is reduced when heated. Creatine heated duced when heated. Creatine heated gives off ammonia and hydrocyanic acid.
Creatine is dissolved by strong acids; it loses a molecule of water, and is converted into creatinine. Creatine has been formed synthetically.
PROS- CRÉBILLON (krā-bē-yōn), PER JOLYOT DE, a French dramatic poet; born at Dijon, in 1674. He was in- tended for the legal profession, but devoted himself to the tragic muse, and produced "Idomeneus," which met with success. This was followed by "Atreus," "Electra," and "Rhadamistus," which were still more successful. He then led a secluded life for many years, but again resumed his dramatic labors, and produced the tragedies of "Catiline" and "The Triumvirate." He died in 1762.
CRÉCY-EN-PONTHIEU, or CRESSY, a village in the French department of CRECY-EN-PONTHIEU, or CRESSY, Somme, on the Maye, 12 miles N. of Abbeville. Crécy is celebrated on acount of the brilliant victory obtained here, Aug. 26, 1346, by Edward III., with 40,000 English soldiers, over a French army amounting, according to Froissart, to 100,000 men under the command of the Count of Alençon. In this great battle perished the flower of the French chivalry, as well as the blind King of Bohemia, who was fighting on the side of France. The Black Prince here distinguished himself greatly, and gained his spurs.