Se 
subjected to the ether. In the ether which had been di- 
~ gested on the opium, a deposition of crystalline matter 
soon commenced. The stopple being removed, and the 
mouth of the containing vessel, (in this case, a-common 
French tineture bottle, ) being covered with blotting pa- 
per, in a few days nearly the whole of the liquid evapo- 
rated spontaneously, leaving much crystalline matter mix- 
ed with colouring matter. The former is, no doubt, the 
principle distinguished by Robiquet, since called narco- 
tine. - di vad of - opium with the ether, is con- 
veniently p in the papins digesters, which are 
sold at some of the et a pak fr this city. The. 
ether should be kept near the temperature of ebullition.” 
Mr. Carpenter has handed me the following account of his 
experiments with opium, and their products:—- > 
“* Denarcotized acidulous extract of Opium.—The extract of 
opium, as it is generally made, is very objectionable, not 
being more active than crude opium, and consequently is _ 
seldom or never employed by our physicians. From vari- 
ous modes and different menstrua, which I have tried, I 
find the following to possess most advantages, both in the 
activity and persistency of the extract, as well as having 
the decided superiority over crude opium, by affording in 
an undiminished degree all its desirable effects, without 
any of its inconveniences. : 
Digest 3j of coarsely powdered opium, in 115 of sulphuric 
ether, of the specific gravity .735 for ten days, occasion- _ 
ally submitting to a moderate heat, in a water bath; distil 
off the ether, and add fresh portions until it ceases to me 
up narcotine, or act at all upon the opiu which may be 
readily known, by dropping a, little on a clean pane of 
glass, which will leave no trace when the opium 1s com- 
pletely exhausted; the second or third distillation will | 
prove sufficient. Most of the ether may be saved, if pre- 
pared with care, and in proper apparatus. Submit the - 
opium thus treated, to the action of Spt. Vin. Rect. Sviijs, 
acid acetic fort. 3j, aque Zvij, and t for seven 
days; filter and evaporate in a water bath, to the consist-— 
ence of an extract. This, in fact, will be an impure 
acetate of morphia, possessing most of the advantages of 
that valuable medicine. One ounce of the best Turkey 
Opium, yielded, by this process, six drachins of extract. — 
Laudanum, and other preparations, may be made of the 
usual standard, calculating six drachms of the extract 
equivalent to 3j of opium. ek pagel wie 
- Denarcotized acidulous tincture of Opium.—Digest 3j of 
coarsely powdered opium, in one pint of sulph. ether, s. g- 
.735 for ten days, occasionally submitting it to a moderate _ 
heat, until it ceases to act upon the opium; separate the 
v2 : 
be 
