466 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



a slide of salicylate of morphia under the polariscope. He had pre- 

 pared this salt with a number of other salicylates of the alkaloids^ 

 with a view that as they were in themselves antiseptic, solutions of 

 these salts might be used with advantage in the practice of medi- 

 cine. The morphia-salt was extremely insoluble, and when first 

 formed was a colloid and amorphous precipitate. It, however, 

 gradually became crystalline, particularly if heated for a short time 

 in its own melting liquors. He had brought this salt before the 

 Club because it was quite new and presented some peculiarities. It 

 would be observed that in many of the crystals the faces were 

 curved in a similar manner to the shape assumed sometimes by the 

 faces of the diamond and other well known crystals. In fact, the 

 salicylate of morphia crystal assumed the well-known curvilinear 

 appearance seen in the crystals of uric acid. He was of opinion that 

 such curvature of the face of any crystal was always indicative of 

 the substance having originally been in the amorphous state. 



