1819.] Scientific Intelligence. 143 
XV. Morphia. 
An account of the original experiments of Sertiirner on the 
infusion of opium, his method of extracting morphia and meconic 
acid from that infusion, and the subsequent trials of Robiquet 
and Vogel, have been already given in this journal. But no 
account has yet appeared in English of the results obtained by 
M. Franz Anton Choulant, though they have been published at 
least a year ago in Gilbert’s Annalen (lvi. 342). As these expe- 
riments are the most minute, and probably the most precise 
that have been yet made, I shall in this and some of the follow- 
ing notices state the principal facts contained in his paper. 
1. Method of procuring Morphia.—Four ounces of well-dried 
and pounded opium were digested in repeated quantities of 
cold distilled water till the liquid amounted to the quantity of 
about 16 English pints. This infusion was evaporated by a 
gentle heat on the sand-bath in a glass vessel till it was reduced 
to eight ounces. The whole was then poured into a porcelain 
evaporating dish. After standing at rest for eight hours in a 
temperature between 54° and 77°, six grains of small crystals 
were deposited, which possessed the properties of sulphate of 
lime. The whole, being evaporated to dryness, was redissolved 
in four ounces of distilled water, with the exception of a small 
quantity of brownish. coloured resin, Oxalate of ammonia being 
dropped into the solution, it became muddy, and a precipitate 
fell, which weighed, when dry, 31 gr. After this precipitate 
had been separated, muriate of barytes was added, as long as it 
occasioned a precipitate. This last precipitate, being separated 
and dried, weighed two grains. 
The solution was now diluted with eight pints of distilled 
water, and caustic ammonia poured in as long as any precipitate 
continued to fall. The precipitate thus obtained was white and 
flocky. After standing two hours, it became granular and 
brown. It weighed six drams. It dissolved completely in eight 
ounces of distilled vinegar, and was precipitated by caustic 
ammonia without any alteration in its colour orits weight. Upon 
this precipitate, one ounce of sulphuric ether was poured ; the 
mixture swelled up considerably. It was thrown upon a white 
paper filter. In the course of an hour and a half, a deep black 
liquid ran through, which weighed half an ounce. It had a 
strong ammoniacal smell, burned very readily, and left a bulky 
charcoal behind it. 
The matter remaining upon the filter had a frothy appearance ; 
but, when dry, it was in the state ofa very fine powder, and had 
lost much of its dark colour. It now weighed 42 drams. This 
powder was digested three times in caustic ammonia, and as 
often in alcohol. Both of these liquids acquired a dark-brown 
colour, and left the morphia in the state of a brownish-white 
powder, reduced to the weight af three drams. 
