163 



Ol)iailill=:C66 H36 N2 O21. In opium, but as yet only found 

 in the Egyptian kind. Draw out with water, precipitate the 

 liquid with ammonia, wash the deposit (mixture of morphin and 

 Opianin) wth water and alcohol, dry, dissolve in hot alcohol, de- 

 colourise by means of animal charcoal, and leave to crystallise, 

 when the Opianin will separate first. — Forms colourless, klino- 

 rhombic crystals, inodorous, of a strong and lasting bitter taste 

 when dissolved in alcohol; of strongly alkaline reaction; remains 

 vmaltered up to 100°, is decomposed by more heat ; is insoluble in 

 water, slightly soluble in boiling alcohol, in sulphuric acid, con- 

 taining nitric acid, with blood-red colour. Is believed by some to 

 be identical with narcotin. 



Opiaiiyl = Meconin. 



[Ol)ilim Alkaloids. C. Hesse describes some new bases ob- 

 tained in the following manner : — The aqueous extract of opium 

 is precipitated by excess of soda or lime, and shaken with ether. 

 From the latter the bases are removed by acetic acid ; the acid 

 solution is slowly added to a moderately diluted potash or soda 

 ley; after 24 hours the precipitate is filtered off, and the filtrate, 

 after being acidified by hydrochloric acid, is again supersaturated 

 with ammonia. The liquid, together with the precipitate, is 

 treated with chloroform, the latter solution with acetic acid, and 

 the acid solution with ammonia, which produces a precipitate con- 

 taining Lanthojnn^iCie Hos NOg. After 24 hours the liquid is 

 added to potash-ley, and becomes tui'bid by Codein, which is re- 

 moved by ether. The solution contains yet Meconidin, Codatnin, 

 Laudanin, and the base A', all of Avhicli pass into the ether on 

 addition of chloride of ammonium. On evaporating the ethereous 

 solution as slowly as possible, LaudanmzzGio H25 NOe, crystal- 

 lises first. After washing the mother-ley with bicarbonate of 

 soda under addition of ether, Codamin = Cs^i H23 NOg, crystal- 

 lises. The yet remaining Meconidin — C42 H23 NO § is sepai-ated 

 from the base A by acidifying the mother-ley and saturating with 

 chloride of sodium ; the precipitate is dissolved in weak acetic 

 acid, and thrown down again by chloride of sodium. The pre- 

 cipitate is dissolved in water, mixed with bicarbonate of soda, 

 shaken with ether, and decolourised by animal charcoal. On 

 evaporating the ether, the Meconidin remains as a yellowisli 

 amorphous mass.] 



Onobalsaiiiuiu .siccuin=ToLu Balsam. 



Oiiobalsaiiinm verum = Mecca Balsam. 



OpoiJOUax, Gum-resinous exudation of Opopanax Chironium- 

 From red-yellow to nearly white, opaque, of a disagreeable 

 balsamic odour, and of a bittei- and acrid taste. Contains 42^ 

 resm, and besides, gum, caoutchouc, wax, and volatile oil. The 



M 2 



