THE ALUMNI JOURNAL, 



183 



ALKALOID=STEARATES AND THEIR 

 THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS. 



Physicians not infrequently prescribe 

 mixtures of alkaloids with fats and oils, 

 for ointments or in suppositories. Un- 

 doubtedly these mixtures would be more 

 effective, if the alkaloids were soluble in 

 the fats and oils, which is not the case 

 with theordinary alkaloidal combinations. 

 To remedy this defect, Francesco Zanar- 

 di has prepared the stearates of the alka- 

 loids mostly used in this way, viz: those 

 of morphine, atropine and cocaine. The 

 stearates are all soluble in fats and in pe- 

 trolatum. Their properties and methods 

 of preparation are given in the follow- 

 ing: 



Morphiyie stearate (CnHigNOsCi-HjiC- 

 OOH). Prepared by direct union of the 

 components or by double decomposition. 

 According to the first method, equimole- 

 cular quantities of stearic acid (5.68) 

 and morphine are allowed to react upon 

 one another. The stearic acid is dis- 

 solved in a flask in 100 ccs. of absolute 

 alcohol, by means of a gentle heat, and 

 the morphine added in small quantities 

 at a time. The warm solution is filtered, 

 when upon cooling the morphine stearate 

 crystallizes out. By concentration of the 

 mother liquors, further yields can be ob- 

 tained. The crystals are dried between 

 30° and 40° C. 



A completely neutral stearate can 

 be obtained by decomposing morphine 

 hydrochlorate with sodium stearate. 



The sodium stearate is prepared by 

 adding to a warmed mixture of 5.68 g. 

 finely cUt stearic acid in 50 g. distilled 

 water, 20 ccs. {■=. o. 8g. NaOH) normal 

 sodium hydroxide solution. To the re- 

 sulting solution, 7.51 g. of morphine hy- 

 drochlorate, dissolved in 100 g. distilled 

 water is added. Upon mixing, the mor- 

 phine stearate separates out as a bulky, 

 white precipitate; this is collected on a 

 filter and washed with water until the 



washings are no longer rendered turbid 

 by hydrochloric acid, or by silver nit- 

 rate test solution after acidulating with 

 a few drops of nitric acid. The stearate 

 so purified is dried and re-crystallized 

 from alcohol. 



Morphine stearate forms white shin- 

 ing, crystalline scales, unctous to the 

 touch and melting at 84-86°. At 100° 

 decomposition sets in and at 150° the 

 mass is blackened. In water, morphine 

 stearate is practically insoluble; in cold 

 alcohol it is only slightly soluble; in 

 warm alcohol readily soluble. Ether 

 dissolves but a small quantity, petro- 

 leum-ether, benzene, chloroform and oil 

 of turpentine still less. In fixed oils it 

 is soluble to about i % at ordinary tem- 

 peratures, fats and vaseline al.-o dissolve 

 it. 



Stearic acid is tested for in this stear- 

 ate by the addition of copper sulphate to 

 the finely-divided substance suspended 

 in water; the presence of morphine is 

 proved by nitric acid and the other usual 

 reagents. 



By means of this stearate, containing 

 50.17% of morphine, we can prepare 

 morphine "oil," morphine salves and 

 morphine suppositories. 



Airopine stearate (Ci,H,3 NO3. CivCsjCO- 

 OH). Prepared according to the same 

 methods employed for the corresponding 

 morphine salt. 



It crystallizes in fine, white, shining 

 needles, unctuous to the touch, melting 

 at 120°, and decomposing at 170°. 



The solubility of atropine stearate in 

 various solvents does not differ material- 

 ly from that of morphine stearate. Its 

 atropine content is 50.43%. 



The presence of stearic acid is proved 

 as before with copper sulphate; the atro- 

 pine is separated from the stearate by 

 means of tartaric acid and tested for in 

 the usual manner. 



The solution of atropine stearate in oil 



