218 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



DETERMINATION OF THE QUALITY OF OPIUM. 



THE process for determining the amount of morphia in opium is 

 simple and easy of execution. A sample of about 15 parts (the au- 

 thor takes 15 grammes, equal to half an ounce) is to be selected from 

 different portions of the mass of opium under trial. This is to be 

 rubbed in a mortar with 60 parts (by weight) of alcohol at 70 degrees 

 (density .890), thrown upon a cloth, and expressed to separate the 

 tincture. The residue is again treated with 40 parts of alcohol of 

 the same strength, and the united tinctures are to be received in a 

 wide-mouthed bottle, containing 60 parts, by weight, of ammonia 

 (density .923, we presume, according to the French codex). In 

 twelve hours the result is obtained; the morphia is separated, but 

 accompanied by a greater or less amount of narcotine, the morphia 

 lining the sides of the bottle under the form of colored crystals, rather 

 large and rough to the touch ; the narcotine being found in small 

 pearly crystals, white, and very light. The crystals are to be col- 

 lected on a cloth, and washed several times with water, to separate 

 the meconate of ammonia which adheres to them. They are then to 

 be thrown into a small cup full of water. The narcotine, which is 

 very light, remains suspended in the liquid, and can be readily sepa- 

 rated, by decantation, from the morphia, which, remaining at the bot- 

 tom, can be collected, dried, and weighed. An opium, to be of a 

 good quality, ought to yield in this way from 1.25 to 1.50 of crystal- 

 lized morphia for 15 of opium; some samples yield 1.75. This pro- 

 cess, which succeeds perfectly well with opiums of good and middling 

 quality, does not succeed with opiums which are poor in morphia or 

 very resinous ; but the fact of their not giving the results shows that 

 they are of inferior quality, and ought to be rejected. Bulletin de 

 Thcrapeutique, Feb. 15. 



ACTION OF, AND TEST FOR, COD-LIVER OIL. 



IN a recent analysis of the blood of an individual taking the cod- 

 liver oil, the animal matters were found nearly doubled, and the 

 fibrine, usually high in pulmonary, complaints, was reduced. There 

 seems some reason, then, for supposing that, in addition to this heal- 

 thy nutritive matter (a sort of magazine to the system), the oil sup- 

 plies certain fat molecules, which appear essential to forming the 

 nucleoli of the primary cells of ordinary tissues, fat having the physi- 

 ological power of coagulating albumen around it. The cod-liver oil 

 of a light brown color is supposed to be the best for pulmonary com- 

 plaints, as it contains the most iodine, and in addition phosphorus, 

 which is perhaps equally valuable. Medical Times. 



It has been discovered that, if pure nitric acid is poured upon the 

 true cod-liver oil, in a short time it will change its color to a very 

 delicate carmine-red ; whereas, if it be impure, or mixed with other 

 fish-oils, the color will be a dirty red or brown. Lard oil is much 

 used in the adulteration, and the acid has no action, or a very imperfect 

 one, upon it. When the acicj is first poured upon the oil, it forms a 



