324 CONSIDERATION OF CARBON COMPOUNDS. 



filtered off, and the weight of the opium restored by sugar of 

 milk, forms the denarcotized opium of the U. S. P. 



Quantitative estimation of morphine in opium. The U. S. P. 

 proposes the following method for the determination of mor- 

 phine in opium. 



Seven grams of opium are triturated with 3 grams of calcium 

 hydrate and 20 c.c. of water, until a uniform mixture results, to 

 which 50 c.c. of water are added. The mixture is filtered, and 

 to 50 c.c. of the filtrate (representing 5 grams of opium) are 

 added 5 c.c. of alcohol and 25 c.c. of stronger ether. After 

 the mixture is well shaken, 3 grams of ammonium chloride are 

 added, again shaken, and then set aside for 12 hours, when 

 morphine separates in small crystals, which are collected upon 

 a filter, dried at 60, and weighed. 



The explanation of the above process is as follows : Calcium 

 hydrate liberates the alkaloids, most of which are precipitated, 

 while morphine is redissolved by the excess of calcium hydrate ; 

 by the addition of ammonium chloride, calcium chloride and 

 ammonia are formed, which latter causes the dissolved alkaloids 

 to be precipitated; ether is added in order to dissolve and 

 eliminate traces of other alkaloids, especially narcotine, which it 

 dissolves, whilst it does not act as a solvent upon the morphine. 



Morphine, Morphina, C 17 H 19 N0 3 .H 2 = 303 (Morphia). A white, 

 crystalline powder, or colorless, shining, prismatic crystals, 

 odorless, of a bitter taste, and an alkaline reaction; almost in- 

 soluble in ether and chloroform, very slightly soluble in cold 

 water, soluble in 100 parts of cold and 36 parts of boiling 

 alcohol; it fuses at 120, losing its water; heated with excess of 

 hydrochloric acid for some hours, under pressure, to 150, it 

 loses water, and is converted into apomorphine, C 17 H ir N"0 2 , a 

 crystalline, solid alkaloid, valuable as an emetic. The hydro- 

 chlorate of apomorphine, C 17 H 17 N0 2 .HC1, is officinal. 



The above-mentioned process for the quantitative estimation 

 of morphine in opium may be used for its manufacture, or it 

 may be made by adding to infusion of opium an equal bulk of 

 alcohol, then slight excess of ammonia, and setting aside for 

 crystallization. The crude morphine thus obtained is purified 

 by crystallization. 



