374 Dr. Ure on Opium and its Tests. 



in reference to that of the liquid. It is insoluble in water, and 

 alcohol, either cold or hot, but it dissolves most readily in any 

 dilute acid ; and it would seem to be chiefly some form of 

 hordein, 



'''^'- Should porter be drugged with opium, the morphia will fall 

 down along with this matter, and it may be separated by the 

 action of boiling alcohol. This alcoholic solution, being 

 cautiously evaporated to dryness, will leave a minute pellicle of 

 morphia on the capsule^ which, when touched with a drop of 

 nitric acid, about specific gravity 1.3, will take the character- 

 istic blood-red tint of morphia, so treated. In this way, I have 

 detected opium in the porter as exported from an eminent 

 London brewery ; but in the porter of some other great London 

 establishments, I have not found any trace of morphia ; whence 

 I infer, that this mode of adulteration is by no means general. 



Ammonia, added to even a strong tincture of hops, causes a 

 very trifling precipitation ; for not more than three or four 

 grains of matter are obtained from the infusion of an ounce of 

 hop in strong spirits. 



In my former paper, I shewed how easily sulpho-cyanic acid 

 might be obtained from ordinary human saliva^ by simple dis- 

 tillation in a retort. Saliva provoked to a rapid flow by tobacco- 

 smoke, or other stimulants, seems to contain as much of this 

 curious acid, as saliva more slowly secreted. I have since 

 examined saliva formed during mercurial ptyalism, and find 

 that it contains no sulpho-cyanic acid, for it is not affected by 

 red muriate of iron. Should this result be found universally, 

 or very generally, to follow the active administration of mer- 

 cury, it may afford a valuable indication to medical practition- 

 ers in doubtful cases, where the ordinary faetor of the breath 

 prevents them from recognising whether or not the mercury 

 has entered the system. During mercurial ptyalism, the saliva 

 shews generally, with litmus paper, an alkaline re-action, 

 though I have sometimes found it neutral, and, occasionally, 

 acid. 



— : ■_ i-fi JfiJi t-^'UniH' 





