APPENDIX, 105 
In absolute 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. (dlfred Dohme, Ph.D., 
Laboratory of Prof. Flickiger, University of Strassburg, February 
7, 1891; dm, Jour, Pharm., April, 1891.) 
The Chemistry of Opium. 
At the instigation of my esteemed instructor, Prof. Fliickiger, 
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 
morphine was combined in the drug. As the work progressed, 
it was decided to study the relative 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 ease 
which one is accustomed to in inorganic. analysis. As is the case 
in every operation with drugs and plants 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-for 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- 
» phurie 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 if it were a question of which acid 
would 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 
N 
