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Acetate of Morphia

The quinia is completely precipitated. Wash the precipitate with distilled water; and, having pressed, dried, and powdered it, digest it in boiling alcohol. Pour off the liquid, and repeat the digestion several times until the alcohol is no longer rendered bitter. Mix the acetate of morphia of commerce is usually in liquids, and distill off the alcohol until a brown the form of a whitish powder, and is prepared viscid mass remains. Transfer it to a suitable by the mere evaporation of the solution to vessel, and pour upon it 4 pints distilled dryness by a gentle heat. During the process water; and, having heated the mixture to the a portion of the acetic acid is dissipated, and boiling point, add as much sulphuric acid as hence this preparation is seldom perfectly may be necessary to dissolve the quinia. soluble in water, unless it be slightly acidula- Then add 14 troy ounces animal charcoal, boil ted with acetic acid. It is prepared by disfor 2 minutes, filter while hot, and set it aside solving 6 drachms morphia in 3 fluid drachms to crystallize. Should the liquid before filtra- acetic acid specific gravity 1.048, diluted with tion be entirely neutral, acidulate it very 4 fluid ounces distilled water; evaporate slightly with sulphuric acid; should it, on the gently, and crystallize. 100 measures of a contrary, change the color of litmus paper to solution of 10 grains in fluid ounce water, a bright red, add more charcoal. Separate and 5 minims of acetic acid, heated to 2120, the crystals from the liquid, dissolve them and decomposed by a very slight excess of in boiling distilled water slightly acidulated ammonia, yield by agitation a precipitate, with sulphuric acid, add a little animal char- which, in 24 hours, occupies 15+ measures of coal, filter the solution, and set it aside to the liquid. crystallize. Lastly dry the crystals on bibu- 4268. Opium. The juice obtained by lous paper with a gentle heat, and keep them cutting the unripe fruit of the white poppy, in a well-stopped bottle. The mother-water and hardened by exposure to the air. may be made to yield an additional quantity yields several alkaloids, the principal of which of sulphate of quinia by precipitating the is morphine. The best opium comes from quinia with water of ammonia, and treating Smyrna, in Turkey. Sometimes the comthe precipitate with distilled water, sulphuric mercial article is found adulterated with acid, and animal charcoal, as before. (U. S. various substances in order to increase its Ph.) When pure it forms light, delicate, white needles. It is entirely soluble in hot water, and more readily so when an acid is present. Precipitated by ammonia, the residuary liquid, after evaporation, should not taste of sugar. By a gentle heat it loses 8 or 10 per cent. of water. It is wholly consumed by heat. If chlorine be first added, and then ammonia, it becomes green. A solution of 10 grains in 1 fluid ounce distilled water, and 2 or 3 drops of sulphuric acid, if decomposed by a solution of 1/2 ounce carbonate of soda, in weight.

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