KEW GAKDEN MUSEUM. 23 



"Analysis of 2000 grains of freshly-collected juice, subjected to ex- 

 periment on the day of collection : 



Grains, 



111 



32-7 



Morphia 



Narcotine 



Other matters soluble in alcohol, codeia, narceia, meconic 



acid, resin, etc. etc 531*0 



Dry marc insoluble in alcohol, lignin, caoutchouc, etc. etc. 225*3 

 Water and volatile matter separable at a heat of 200^Pahr. 1210*0 



Total 2000-0 



r 



" It has already been stated that, in preparing the drug-, the cultivators 

 drain from it all the fluid portion, which of course consists of the most 

 soluble of the principles of Opium, dissolved in dew, or in moisture 

 absorbed from the atmosphere. This fluid, to w^hich the name of pus- 

 se?ca7i is given, is brought to the factory in large quantities, of many 

 gallons at a time, and of all consistences, from that of a limpid fluid to 

 that of thick treacle. 



*' Eecently collected pussewah is a dark fluid, resembling strong in- 

 fusion of coffee, and having a peculiar smell, 



"The quantity of standard Opium received at the sadder factory of 

 the Benares agency, during the season of 1849-50, was 18,191 maunds, 

 whilst the quantity of pussewah delivered amounted to 100 maunds, 

 being at the rate of one maund of pussewah to nearly 182 maunds of 

 drug; the pussewah containing on an average, say 50 per cent, of solid 

 mattei\ This pussewah, be it observed, although separated from the 

 drug, is not lost to the provision, being employed in the formation of 

 the shells of the cakes ^ and, as the Chinese form a watery extract of 

 the drug for the purpose of smoking, the whole of the constituents of 

 the pussewah are thus recovered on boiling the shells in water, as is 



practised in China. 



"Amongst the thousands of individuals, cultivators, and employ^ 

 with whom the factory is filled during the receiving and manufacturing 

 seasons, no complaints are ever heard of any injurious effects resulting 

 from the influence of the dmg, whilst they all remain quite as free from 

 general sickness as persons unconnected with the general establish- 

 ment, — In fact, if anything, more so. It occasionally happens that a 

 casual visitor to the factory complains of giddiness or headache, but 



