%7% 
- APPENDIX. | % 
é s “hy i 
. 
- FORMULA FOR THE PREPARATION OF MORPHIA. Br 
E. Startzs. {To which reference has been made, page 228 of 
this vol.) 
_ Four ounces of dried and coarsely powdered opium, to be sub- 
mitted to the action of two ounces of pure pyroligneous acid, dilut- 
ed with two or three ounces of pure water, for twenty-four hours, 
to be repeatedly stirred during the time ; to this add twenty ounces 
of alcohol of 35 Beaumé ; suffer this to digest another twenty-four 
hours, then immerse the vessel which contains it in water, and 
ually raise the temperature to 160° Fahrenheit; pour the 
uor thus heated upon a coarse linen or flannel strainer, and 
press it through while hot; after cooling, the liquor should be filter- 
ed through the paper used by apothecaries for the purpose. To 
this highly coloured acidulous tincture, add, at different times, cau- 
tiously, so that.no apparent disturbance takes place in it, a solu- 
tion of ammonia in alcohol, prepared as follows: three ounces of 
the strongest ammoniated alcohol, diluted with six ounces of alco- 
hol of 35 Beaumé; about one ounce of this may be poured in at 
a time, in a gradual manner, and the rest added at regular intervals. 
In ashort time, the Morphia will begin to precipitate in a crystalline 
form, and of a nankeen colour; by washing this precipitate in a 
small portion of water, and dissolving it in boiling alcohol of 35 
Beaumé, it may be obtained perfectly pure, and nearly white. 
By distilling the alcohol from the solvent, which should be done 
in a water bath, and suffering it to cool at different points of the 
distillation, further crystals of Morphia may be obtained. The 
residue may now be evaporated, and the Extractum Opii Morphia 
privatum be formed. This process will yield upwards of five 
drachms to the pound of opium. : : Peet 
Test.—Nitric acid, strong, changes Morphia to bright-ed—Tinct. 
ge as test. Sulphuric acid, when strong, and added in excess, 
- ¢hanges Morphia and salts to a permanent claret hue. 
_ The above simple process, devised by Mr. Edward Staples, he 
informs me, can be accomplished by a nurse’s lamp. Ihaveseen 
all his preparations of opium—they are very beautiful. He has paid 
much attention to this subject, and his results prove with De A 
much skill, talent, and effect. I think I can safely promise, from my 
knowledge of this gentleman, that the result of his present investi 
. 
g2 aoe the profession, and highly credita- 
to 
? Penn’: Mud. Colles 
Rewidiin.e Rioon. 
