84 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
view, being probably an inert substance. It is readily soluble in 
alcohol, and slightly so in water, and therefore must exist to con- 
siderable extent in most of our preparations. The absolute form 
of the individual crystals it is impossible to determine, but the 
masses of delicate, somewhat opaque, silky needles, either radiating 
from a centre or taking an irregular feathery shape are very 
characteristic, and the absence of any effect on a ray of polarized 
light is a negative property of importance. 
Meconine occurs in six-sided prisms with dihedral summits, and 
has little, if any, polarizing power. 
Thebaine is readily soluble in alcohol, slightly so in water. 
From solutions in weak alcohol it crystallizes in beautiful rec- 
tangular plates, often associated in tufts more or less radiating 
from a centre. It is a most beautiful polarizing object. 
Papaverine is present to so trifling an extent that it scarcely 
requires notice. The little which is dissolved by boiling water 
crystallizes out again on cooling in minute needles often aggregated 
in rounded balls, so closely packed as to be quite opaque. The 
large crystals obtained from the alcoholic solution possess slight 
polarizing properties. 
Meconie Acid.— Although the meconate of morphine in opium 
is an acid salt, it seems probable that part of the meconic acid is 
also there in a free state; at any rate, we frequently find it in 
preparations. As it is soluble in both alcohol and water, prepara- 
tions are pretty sure to contain whatever quantity does exist in 
the crude drug, unless it has been removed by chemical means. 
The form of the crystals is primarily a square prism, but we have 
only seen this in minute examples, and it is very difficult to trace 
the relationship to this type in the flat, pointed lozenges, somewhat 
resembling the attenuated forms of uric acid, which generally 
occur, EHyen these frequently run into still more strange varietal 
shapes, whose only resemblance to the lozenge-form exists in their 
broad centres and two pointed ends. ‘They all have some effect on 
the polarized ray. Boiling water decomposes meconic acid; car- 
bonic acid is given off, and komenic acid, a substance we have not 
yet studied, is formed. 
‘We may now proceed to the practical application of the facts 
enumerated, and detail the results of the examination of the many 
preparations which have come under our notice. 
Of Turkey Opium we have investigated—firstly, the tincture, 
prepared by ourselves from different samples of opium, as well as 
specimens procured from certain well-known operative chemists ; 
secondly, the extract ; thirdly, the wine; fourthly, the more or 
less aqueous solutions sold as Liquor Opii Sedativus, Battley’s, 
one or two samples prepared by ourselves, aud specimens procured 
from four well-known firms; and fifthly, certain proprietary 
opiates, viz. “ Black Drop,” ‘“ Jeremie’s Sedative,” “ Nepenthe,” 
and that sold as “ Solution of Bimeconate of Morphia.”’ 
We must be excused giving the names of the makers from whom 
