1 58 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



separated at it, and this was proved to be the case by experiment. 

 Lentil seeds were put to germinate in glasses of distilled water aci- 

 dulated with nitric, acetic, and sulphuric acid, the temperature of 

 the air being from 65° to 75° Fahrenheit: other seeds were put into 

 water rendered alkaline by potash and ammonia. At the expiration 

 of thirty hours, germination had very evidently commenced in the 

 water rendered alkaline by potash : after forty-four hours it was 

 much developed in this solution, in that of ammonia, and in water. 

 In seven days some grains had germinated in the nitric and sulphu- 

 ric acid, but even after a month had elapsed, none could be disco- 

 vered in the acetic acid. It is a curious fact, that a grain which 

 had germinated in the alkaline solution, was, after well wash- 

 ing, acid within. It is therefore to the action of the alkali that 

 must be attributed the property of the negative pole to favour ger- 

 mination. To determine the action of metallic salts upon germi- 

 nation, acetate of lead, perchloride of mercury, nitrate of silver, and 

 acetate of copper were employed : in solutions of these salts no 

 germination occurred in ten days. In fact, after being well washed 

 and put into water, they could not germinate at all. The same ef- 

 fect was produced by very concentrated solutions of common salt, 

 and of muriate of barytes : in infusion of galls only did germination 

 take place in the same way as in water. — Ann. de Chim. et de Phys., 

 t. Iv., p.310. 



ON THE DETECTION OF OPIUM; AND ON A NEW TEST FOR 

 MORPHIA AND QUINA. BY MR. H. A. MEESON. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine. 

 Gentlemen, 



In submitting to your consideration the following experiments, 

 which are chiefly interesting in a medico-legal point of view, I shall 

 not pretend to account for the chemical changes which take place, 

 but shall confine myself to a description of the facts which 1 have 

 observed. The detection of opium, in cases of poisoning by it, has 

 always been attended with difficulty, and the addition of another 

 test to those already employed may sometimes be found useful. The 

 test which I am about to propose is applicable only to the principle 

 Morphia. Ifa solution of this substance orof any of its salts be mixed 

 with a strong solution of chlorine, and ammonia be added, a dark 

 brown colour will pervade the solution, which will disappear by 

 the addition of more of the solution of chlorine. This effect does 

 not take place with any other of the vegetable alkalies which I have 

 examined; but if quina or any of its salts be treated in the same 

 way, a beautiful green colour will be observed, which will become 

 red on the addition of an acid. This test is delicate, and will detect 

 a grain of either of these alkaloids in a pint of solution. It is par- 

 ticularly necessary for the success of these reactions that both the 

 chlorine and ammonia be strong. — Should these remarks meet your 

 approbation, the insertion of them in your valuable Journal will 

 much oblige. Your most obedient, 



Guy*s Hospital, Jun. 7, 1835. H. A. Meeson. 



