12 Dr. Guy, on Microscopic Sublimates. 



the lines forming tlie crystals remain distinct, and the curved 

 lines form a border to them. 



No such reactions as these occur either Avith morphine or 

 bruciue, or with any other alkaloid with which I am 

 acquainted ; and as to this reaction with strychnine, I be- 

 lieve that I am justified, by certainly upwards of a hundred 

 experiments at the least, in speaking of it as equally uniform 

 in occurrence, delicate in succeeding with the smallest sub- 

 limates, and characteristic in the appearances which it puts 

 on (fig. 17). 



I begin what I have to say of the alkaloid morphine by 

 comparing its reaction with carbazotic acid with that just 

 described. Its characteristic feature appears to be the forma- 

 tion, at or near the very margin of the spot, of coarse yellow 

 masses, approaching the circular form, single, double, like a 

 dumb-bell, or triple, like a fleur-de-lis. The reagent seems 

 to contribute largely to these spots, for its own crystalline 

 forms are rarely to be seen in the dry spot (fig. 18). With the 

 sublimate of brucine the carbazotic acid produces a brown, 

 mottled pattern, with, in some parts of the field, a curious 

 growth of twisted and gnarled roots (fig. 19). 



My remaining observations on the sublimates of this 

 alkaloid must be condensed into as few words as possible. 

 Morphine, like strychnine, yields its crystalline, its watered, 

 and its smoked sublimates; and, like strychnine, the 

 milk-white circular patch may be seen forming on the 

 disk of glass. But the alkaloid generally melts before 

 the sublimates begin to form, and yields fewer subli- 

 mates before it is exhausted and reduced to a spot of char- 

 coal. It is probable that the minimum quantity which will 

 yield a sublimate is more than the tits— o^h of a grain, which 

 suffices in the case of strychnine. I think that it may be 

 stated at some such quantity as the „ 3',, p th of a grain. The 

 thicker sublimates very generally present a distinct ciystal- 

 line arrangement, and the prevailing element in their struc- 

 ture is the sweeping curved line so rarely seen in the subli- 

 mates of strychnine. The body of the sublimate accordingly 

 is made up of very graceful figures, and the fringed border 

 resembles more some delicate twisting weed than the mossy 

 border of the strychnine crust. The dark penniform and 

 fern-like crystals which I mentioned when speaking of strych- 

 nine are also common in the sublimates of morphine (fig. 20). 



The reactions of morphine contrast strongly with those of 

 strychnine. The sublimate is very soluble in water, caustic am- 

 monia, dilute hydrochloric acid, and solution of bichromate of 

 potash; and the crystals are remarkable for their size, brilliancv 



