400 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



it may not be re-dissolved by the addition of the further quantity 

 of alkali necessary to precipitate the morphia. 



It was found that the product from the magnesian process was 

 rarely so white and pure as that furnished by the above method ; 

 and in comparative experiments the ammonia process yielded the 

 largest result. The quantities of substances used are given as 

 follows : — macerate a kilogramme (35oz. 5dr.) of opium in suffi- 

 cient cold water to exhaust the residuum, evaporate the liquors 

 until of specific gravity 1012, ornearly so ; when half cooled, add 

 to the solution so much ammonia as will make it neutral 

 or very slightly alkaline, about eight grammes, (123.5 gr.) allow 

 the precipitated matter to separate ; decant, and again add am- 

 monia in sufficient quantity, about 64 grammes; (988.5 gr.) leave it 

 for about twelve hours to deposit, throw the precipitate on a filter, 

 wash it with cold water, and then treat it with three kilogrammes 

 {61b. lOoz.") of alcohol of sp. gravity .847, and sixty-four grammes 

 (988. 5gr.) of animal charcoal ; heat it in a sand bath, and when the 

 alcohol boils filter it ; as it cools the morphium will crystallize, 

 amounting in weight to from 350 to 472 grains. The alcohol, rec- 

 tified, will serve for further operations. — Juur. de Pharmacie, x. 475. 



24. Active 'principle of Belladonna. — M. Runge has ascertained 

 that the narcotic principle of Belladonna is destroyed, or so 

 changed, by alkaline solutions, as to lose its distinguishing property 

 of causing dilatation of the pupil : this takes place when the solu- 

 tions are weak, or even with lime water ; so that this principle can- 

 not be obtained by the usual process, alkaline substances being- 

 used. Magnesia, however, was found not to exert any action of 

 this kind, and may therefore be resorted to in the process, but it is 

 very advantageous to use it as a hydrate, and not calcined. It 

 should be thrown down from sulphate of magnesia by potash, not in 

 sufficient quantity to decompose the whole of the salt, the mixture 

 added to the aqueous infusion of belladonna, and the whole eva- 

 porated by a brisk fire to dryness ; the residue, which is readily 

 dried and pulverized, is to be treated with highly rectified boiling 

 alcohol. The clear yellow solution is to be evaporated spontane- 

 ously, and a crystalline mass is obtained, which slightly blues red- 

 dened litmus paper, dissolves in water and produces extreme dila-?- 

 tation of the pupil. The salts formed by it with sulphuric, muriatic, 

 and nitric acids, also produce the same effect on the eye. — Ann, de 

 Chim, xxvii. 32. 



25. On the active principle of Colocynth — Colocyntine. — The fol- 

 lowing account is abstracted from a paper, by M.Vauquelin : — 

 Colocynth treated with alcohol, yields the bitter substance much 

 purer than when water is used. The alcoholic solution evaporated 



