316 Scientific Intelligence. [Oct. 



bercular coating, up to crystals, 0,25 in length, and 0,01 diameter, 

 with distinct brilliant faces, and a rich Berlin blue colour. The 

 connecting specimens of Strahlertz are in fibrous radiating tubercles, 

 the fibres not much inferior in dimensions to the last-mentioned ; of 

 similar hue within, and almost black on the convex tubercular sur- 

 face : the series passing on from this gradually through the other 

 varieties of Strahlertz. If the measurements shall be found to agree 

 with those of Strahlertz, it would be enough to settle the question, 

 without sacrificing any of this rare substance for analysis. P. 



IV. — Para-morphine and Pseudo-morphine. 



These two substances were obtained by Pelletier in treating opium 

 with lime and ammonia. The first is white, soluble with difficulty 

 in water, very soluble in ether and alcohol, even without heat, pos- 

 sessing an acrid and styptic taste. By evaporation it crystallizes in 

 needles ; weak acids dissolve it ; alkalies precipitate it from its solu- 

 tions. An excess of alkali does not re-dissolve the precipitate ; its 

 solution in acids never affords crystals ; yellow plates are procured on 

 evaporation. It freezes at ISO^ (302oF.) and does not volatilize at 

 a higher temperature, but decomposes, giving out azotic products. 

 It differs from morphine, in not reddening concentrated nitric acid, 

 in not forming crystallizable salts with the acids, and in not pro- 

 ducing a blue colour with the salts of iron. It approaches codeine 

 in its solubility in alcohol and ether, and by its alkaline nature, but 

 it differs in not crystallizing in large crystals, in not forming crys- 

 tallizable salts, and in being always precipitated from its acid solu- 

 tions by ammonia. It has no analogy with meconine and narceine. 

 It resembles in some degree narcotine, but the taste, fusibility, and 

 solubility in alcohol are sufficient to distinguish them. 



Pseudo-morphine is almost insoluble in water, alcohol,*? and 

 ether, yet alcohol of sp. gr. '837 dissolves a little of it ; potash and 

 soda dissolve it in great quantity. By saturating the alkalies with 

 an acid, the matter precipitates. Concentrated sulphuric acid ren- 

 ders it brown, and decomposes it. Concentrated nitric acid acts upon 

 it as upon morphine, converting it into oxalic acid. A very intense 

 blue colour is produced when it is brought in contact with the salts 

 of iron, especially the muriated peroxide, which disappears with an 

 excess of acid. The same salt dissolves it in considerabble quantity, 

 forming a fine blue solution, which becomes green by the application 

 of heat ; ammonia produces a slight precipitation in this solution, 

 and gives it a red colour. When heated in the fire it softens and 

 decomposes. Distilled in a retort it gives oil and acidulous water, 

 from which potash disengages ammonia, and leaves charcoal. The 

 constituents of the two substances compared with morphine are, 



Para-morphine. Pseudo-morphine Morphine. 



Carbon .... 71-310 



Oxygen .... 17992 



Hydrogen . . . 6-290 



Azote .... 4.408 



(Journ. de Chim. Medic. I 449. 2nd Scries.) 



