331 



The author then proceeds to the consideration of the products of 

 decomposition of codeine. 



When treated with strong sulphuric acid, codeine passes into an 

 amorphous condition, similar to that in which quinine is obtained 

 when treated with an excess of acid, and in which state it forms 

 resinous compounds with acids. 



With dilute nitric acid it gives a new base, nitrocodeine, the for- 

 mula of which is Cgg H,^^ (NO^) NOg, which is precipitated from 

 its solution by ammonia, in minute silvery crystals, sparingly 

 soluble in water, but dissolving readily in alcohol and ether ; and 

 crystallising on cooling in small yellowish needles. It dissolves 

 readily in acids, with the formation of salts, which have a more or 

 less yellow colour ; and all crystallize except the hydrochlorate. Of 

 these the hydrochlorate, sulphate, oxalate, and platinochloride are 

 described. 



By the action of bromine, two different bases are obtained — bro- 

 mocodeine and tribromocodeine. The first of these is prepared by 

 adding bromine water to powdered codeine until it is dissolved, and 

 then precipitating with ammonia, when the base is thrown down as 

 a crystalline powder, which is obtained in needles by solution in 

 boiling water or alcohol. Its formula in the crystallized state is 

 Cgg HjQ Br NOg + 3 HO. Its salts are similar, in most of their 

 properties, to those of codeine, and all crystallize in small needles. 

 By the further action of bromine, a yellow powder, sparingly soluble 

 in water, is obtained, which is the hydrobromate of tribromocodeine, 

 and from which the base is obtained by solution in hydrochloric acid, 

 and the addition of ammonia. Tribromocodeine is a gray powder, 

 insoluble in water and ether, but soluble in alcohol ; it is an ex- 

 tremely feeble base, but dissolves in acids and forms salts, all of 

 which are sparingly soluble in water and amorphous. Its formula 

 is Cgg H^3 Brg NOg. 



The author found that chlorine, by acting upon codeine, gave rise 

 to amorphous compounds, which were not obtained of definite con- 

 stitution ; but by the use of a mixture of chlorate of potash and 

 hydrochloric acid he obtained chlorocodeine, Cgg Hjg CI NOg, 

 similar in its general properties and constitution to bromocodeine, 

 and resembling that substance so closely that it may be easily mis- 

 taken for it. 



By the action of cyanogen another base was obtained. This 



