OPIUM 



267 



tracheae and narrow sclerenchymatous fibers; parenchyma of seeds 

 colorless, containing air; epidermal cells with large, elliptical, oblique 

 pores; taste bitter; sparingly soluble in water or potassium hydrate 

 solution. The Smyrna opium has the largest number of epidermal 



FIG. 120. Original packages of Opium imported from Turkey. After a photo- 

 graph by Parke, Davis & Co. 



cells of capsule, the Indian few or none and the Persian very few. 

 The Persian always has an appreciable amount of starch. 



Powdered opium not infrequently shows fragments of Cacao 

 shells and crystals of sugar of milk, these being used as diluents in 

 bringing high grades of opium down to the official standards. 



