486 Scientific Intelligence. [JUNE, 
in contact with carbonic acid gas, or when it is precipitated from 
its solutions by an alkaline subcarbonate. It is more soluble in 
water than morphium, and capable of crystallizing. The carbonate 
of morphium crystallizes in short prisms. 
Acetate of morphium crystallizes in soft prisms, and is very 
soluble in water. 
Sulphate of morphium crystallizes in the form of twigs and 
branches of trees, and is likewise very soluble. 
Muriate of morphium assumes a plumose appearance. It is 
much less soluble in water than the other salts of morphium; and 
when the solution is too far evaporated, it speedily concretes, on 
cooling, into a shining, silver-white, plumose, saline mass. 
Nitrate of morphium crystallizes in prisms, which are grouped 
together, and appear to issue from a central point. 
Meconiate of morphium was not examined ; but submeconiate of 
morphium crystallizes in oblique prisms. This is the substance 
which Derosne extracted from opium, and which he considered as 
the narcotic principle. It is but sparingly soluble in water.* 
Tartrate of morphium crystallizes in prisms, and has a close re- 
semblance to the preceding salts. 
Morphium melts in a gentle heat; and in that state has very 
much the appearance of melted sulphur. On cooling, it again 
crystallizes. It burns easily; and when heated in close vessels, 
leaves a solid, resinous, black matter, having a peculiar smell. It 
combines with sulphur by the assistance of heat; but the combina- 
tion is speedily destroyed, and sulphureted hydrogen gas evolved. 
It acts with great energy on the animal economy. A grain anda 
half taken at three different times produced such violent symptoms 
upon three young men of 17 years of age, that Sertiirner was 
alarmed lest the consequences should have been fatal. 
Such is an abstract of the properties of morphium as detailed by 
Sertiirner. I shall publish a translation of the whole paper as soon 
as I can find room for it. Meanwhile, the preceding account will 
enable my readers to obtain morphium at pleasure, and to investi- 
gate its properties. 
X. Safety Lamps for Mines. 
(To Dr. Thomson.) 
SIR, 
I now send for your inspection, and through the medium of your 
Annals for the inspection of those who take an interest in the secu- 
rity of the laborious miner, two plans of safety lanterns. (Plate 
LXVII. Figs. 11 and 12.) Unwilling to encroach too much on 
your pages, I will be very brief in my description. 
The large one (Fig. 12) may be styled a double-cased lantern, 
in which each case has securely fixed its corresponding slips of glass 
* Meconic acid (from janxav, a poppy) isa peculiar acid which Sertirner has 
detected in opium. 
