APPENDIX. 105 



hi ahsohtle alcohol at 13^^ C. — 7*2422 grams of a saturated solution 

 yielded 0*009 grams of morphine picrate (dried at 100°) which 

 gives a solubility of 1 part in 800 parts of alcohol. 



This being the case, it is, of course, impossible to make use of the 

 salt as a means of determining morphine. (^Alfred Dohme^ Ph.D.^ 

 Lahoratory of Prof. FUlcldgery University of Strasshiirg^ February 

 17, 1891 ; Jm.^Jour. Phcmn,, April, 1891,) 



The Chemistry of Opium. 



At the instigation of my esteemed instructor, Prof- Flfickiger, 

 I undertook to study the phenomena which present themselves when 

 opium is dialyzed. When the investigation was first begun, the 

 prime object in view was to determine, if possible, to what cause 

 the acid reaction of aqueous extract of opium was due, and how 

 niorphine was combined in the drug. As the work progressed, 

 it was decided to study the rehitive quantities of the chief con- 

 stituents of the drag, and, if possible, then draw conclusions in 

 regard to how these are combined in nature in the same. In 



how far this has proven successful the conclusions will shew; 

 suffice it to say here that the work was a very long-drawn out and , 

 laborious one, and not one of the results obtained with the case 

 wliich one is accustomed to in inorganic analysis. As is the case 

 in every operation with drugs and phmts of any kind, the numerous 

 colouring matters, gums, resins, and the many other amorphous sub- 

 stances of which we have but little definite knowledge, save that they 

 exist to worry the chemist, very much hindered the work in many 

 respects. Dialysis was chosen, inasmuch as by means of it it was 

 hoped that all of the looked-f or constituents would pass into solution, 

 while little or none of the undesired would follow suit. Besides this, 

 no operation was to be performed with the opium which might change 

 the nature of combination of its various constituents. It had been 

 observed by Fliickiger that there is, in all probability, enough sul- 

 phuric acid present in opium to combine with nearly all of the alkaloids 

 present. Whether or not, however, it is sulpuric acid or meconic acid 

 that is in excess and hence free, as yet remained an open question. 

 It is certainly very probable that i£ it were a question of which acid 

 ^vould first and most readily be neutralized by the bases, that sul- 

 phuric acid would be the one, although mass action might cause 

 some of the meconic acid to be in combination at the expense of 



