SCHIFF AND MONS ACCHI (Anncclen, 1895, 288, 31 3) hydrolysed oxamethane with hydroxylamine, and obtained a compoand to which they gave the name " hydroxylamide," and ascribed the formula, NH,*CO*CO*NH*OH. At the same time, they pointed out t h a t it decomposed at the same temperature as, and was very similar to, t h e compound obtained by Holleman (Rec. truv. chim., 1894, 13, 84) by the action of hydrochloric acid on oxamidedioxime. Holleman then compared the two substances (Rec. trav. chim.,

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... 896, 15, 148) , showed t h a t they were not identical, and suggested t h a t they were stereoisomerides of the formula NH,*C(NOH)*CO*OH. H e gave the syn-formula t o his own compound, since this more readily explains the formation of cyanamide when it is treated with acetic anhydride. The anti-configuration was given t o Schiff and Monsacchi's compound, as this more readily accounts for the formation of carbon dioxide and carbamide when it is heated. I n 1901, it was shown by Pickard and Carter (Trans., 79, 841) t h a t