CRYSTALLINE CONSTITUENTS OF OPIUM. 197 
tine, which had not been mixed with the others, but treated in a different man- 
ner for the preparation of thebaine, and it seemed probable that it would be 
found in abundance in the precipitate produced in that fluid by subacetate of lead. 
This opinion proved to be perfectly correct, and after a few trials it was found 
that it might be readily extracted in the following manner. The subacetate of 
lead precipitate was reduced to fine powder and boiled with alcohol, by which means 
a very dark fiuid was obtained, which deposited a few crystals, apparently of 
narcotine, on cooling, and on further concentration, a dark-coloured resinous sub- 
stance was left. After the complete expulsion of the alcohol, the residual mass 
was treated with dilute hydrochloric acid, which dissolved narcotine and papa- 
verine, and left a quantity of a black resinous matter, which was separated by 
filtration. The fluid was then concentrated and left to itself. In the course of 
a few days crystals of the sparingly soluble hydrochlorate of papaverine began 
to make their appearance, and continued gradually to increase for some time. 
As soon as they ceased to increase they were removed from the solution, which 
was found to contain narcotine, and purified by several crystallizations. The 
base was then separated by ammonia, and obtained in a state of absolute purity, 
by solution in boiling alcohol, and crystallization. 
Papaverine, as thus obtained, is in the form of minute radiated crystals, 
highly soluble in boiling alcohol; so much so, that a saturated hot solution be- 
comes nearly solid on cooling. It saturates the acids completely, and gives in the 
most distinct manner the reaction with strong sulphuric acid described by Merckx. 
Although the formula assigned to papaverine by its discoverer appeared to be 
correct, an analysis of that obtained by the process just described was made; and 
as in the course of the investigation it became necessary to ascertain by analysis 
_ whether particular specimens were free of narcotine, several additional combus- 
tions were obtained, the results of which arealso given. The analyses were made 
with the chromate of lead. 
4-950 grains of papaverine, dried at 212°, gave 
J. ¢11:020  ... carbonic acid, and 
2-410 ... water. 
4-525 grains of papaverine gave 
11:714 ~~... ~~ earbonie acid, and 
2635 ... water. 
11:430 ... carbonic acid, and 
2-569 se water. 
4-416 grains of papaverine gave 
II. 
8°380 grains of papaverine gave, by Pexicot’s method, 
{ 0369 ... nitrogen. 
8-960 grains of papaverine gave, by Pzttcor’s method, 
0-355 ... nitrogen. 
