131 



filtering, mixing with chloride of ammonium, filtering again and 

 neutralising with excess of hydrochloric acid. The precipitate is 

 dissolved in hot alcohol and crystallised. — The M. acid crystallises 

 in leaflets, insoluble in water, soluble in alcohol, easily soluble in 

 ether, soluble also in warm petroleum, in potash-ley and ammonia. 

 Fuses at 205°-206°. Is, according to Flueckiger and Hanbury, 

 probably identical with Gurjunic acid, which itself may be regarded 

 as Hydrated Abietic acid.] 



Metaiuorpllill. Obtained only once in the preparation of 

 morphin (after the method, indicated there, with lime, &c.), as 

 hydrochloride of Metamorphin. This salt was decomposed with 

 an equivalent weight of silver-sulphate, the chloride of silver 

 removed by filtering, the liquid digested with carbonate of baryta 

 and the Metamorphin withdrawn by alcohol fx-om the mixture 

 consisting of sul})hate of baryta, carbonate of baryta and Meta- 

 morphin. — Forms flat, concentrically united prisms; has at first no 

 perceptible, but afterwards a very slightly jKingent, not bitter taste ; 

 becomes at 1 00° opaque, grey-brown at 130° without fusing, but fuses 

 on rapidly heating to a colourless liquid; has a neutral reaction 

 when dissolved in water, and a slightly alkaline one when dissolved 

 in alcohol ; dissolves in 6000 parts cold and in 70 parts boiling water, 

 in 330 parts cold and 9 parts boiling alcohol of 90%, not in ether, 

 in the hydrates and carbonates of alkalies; gives the same reactions 

 with sulphuric, niti'ic, and iodic acids as morphin; becomes grey- 

 blue with chloride of iron. 



Methysticill. Peculiar crystalline body of the so-called kawa- 

 root (from Piper methysticum). Evapoi'ate the alcoholic tincture 

 to honey-consistence, treat with alcohol, let the solution cr3rstallise 

 and purify the crystals by recrystallisation. — Colourless, inodorous 

 and tasteless, neutral crystals, fusible at 130°, decomposing in a 

 higher temperature, insoluble in water (accoi'ding to other statement : 

 slightly sohible in cold, more readily in hot water), scarcely in cold 

 alcohol, ether and volatile oils, abundantly in hot alcohol and in hot 

 volatile oils; in hydrochloric acid with yellow, in nitric acid with 

 red, in pure siilphuric acid with beautiful violet, in commercial 

 sulphuric acid with blood-red colour. 



Morill=iCi8 Hs Oio (isomeric with morus-tamiic acid). The 

 yellow pigment of the wood of Madura tinctoria. Boil the wood 

 with water, concentrate the decoction to a small bulk, keep in a cold 

 place, collect the yellow sediment which Avill have formed, press, 

 dissolve in hot alcohol, dilute with ten times its quantity of water, 

 collect the deposit of morin-lime, boil with a solution of oxalic 

 acid in alcohol, filter hot and let crystallise. — White crystalline 

 powder, passing exposed to ammoniacal vapours into a faint 

 yellow; of slightly bitter, not acerb taste; of acidulous reaction; 

 loses water at 180°, remains so unaltered uji to 250°, decomposes 



