382 Analysis of Opium. [Nov. 



boiling alcohol. The product dissolved in this case is 

 Narceine. But it is proper to state, that as this substance 

 is not soluble in ether, and as the black substances which 

 accompany it are soluble in alcohol, there are some diffi- 

 culties accompanying the process for obtaining it; it is 

 always procured pure by employing boiling water. No 

 notice is here taken of meconic acid, which combines with 

 the lime, and forms bimeconate of lime, because Robiquethas 

 sufficiently explained the method of obtaining it. 



With regard to the double muriate of morphine and 

 codeine, it is dissolved several times in boiling water, 

 passing it through charcoal in order to decolourize it, or 

 decomposing it by ammonia, which precipitates almost all 

 the morphine, and leaves in the solution the codeine, with a 

 little morphine combined with the muriatic acid, consti- 

 tuting the salt of Gregory. The morphine is purified by 

 the usual means. 



The solution of the triple salt is evaporated until it appears 

 about to crystallize ; then caustic potash is added in excess, 

 which precipitates the codeine and retains the morphine in 

 solution ; the solution is then heated slightly, and allowed 

 to stand for a day. The codeine, which at first appeared 

 as an oil, crystallizes. It may be purified by solution in 

 ether or alcohol. The former is preferable; because, if it 

 contains morphine, this will be a direct method of sepa- 

 rating it. From 40 lbs. of opium Couerbe obtained by this 

 process, 



1 oz. of meconine 

 IJ ,, codeine 

 f ,, narceine 

 1 ,, thebaine 

 50 ,, morphine 

 He did not extract narcotine, which exists in the refuse of 

 opium and is well known. These substances present the 

 following appearances when agitated with sulphuric acid 

 containing a little nitric acid. Morphine gives a brownish 

 colour. Codeine, a green colour. Thebaine a yellow rose- 

 colour. Narcotine, a blood-red colour. Meconine, a tur- 

 meric yellow, then a red colour. Narceine, a chocolate 

 colour. 



Thebaine crystallizes from an ethereal solution, in flat 



