POPPY. 241 



the extensive cultivation of this plant for opium. English opium is very 

 rich in morphia ; Mr. Brande observes " from a carefully prepared sample 

 of English opium, I procured rather a larger quantity of morphia than from 

 the same weight of Turkey opium." 



Opium may also be obtained in the form of an extract from the eva- 

 porated decoction of poppy capsules, but it is weaker than pure opium. 

 M. Magendie gives a mode of preparing indigenous morphine from this 

 extract •. 



Qualities — " Turkey opium when soft is tenacious ; but when long ex- 

 posed to the air, it becomes hard, and breaks with a uniform shining frac- 

 ture. Its specific gravity is 1.336. It is inflammable, and partially soluble in 

 water, vinegar, lemon-juice, wine, alcohol, and ether. When carefully 

 triturated with hot water, about five parts in twelve of the opium are dis- 

 solved and retained in solution, nearly six parts are simply suspended, and 

 rather more than one part remains perfectly insoluble, of a viscid plastic 

 nature, somewhat resembling the gluten of wheat, but of a dark colour. 

 Bucholz regarded this as caoutchouc." f " The aqueous solution is trans- 

 parent when filtered, reddens litmus paper, is precipitated by the carbo- 

 nates of potassa and soda, and by pure ammonia ; also by solutions of the 

 muriate and nitrate of mercury, subacetate of lead, nitrate of silver, and the 

 sulphates of copper, zinc, and iron. It is also precipitated by infusion of 

 galls, and by all astringent vegetable infusions." £ 



The analysis of opium has much occupied the attention of chemists. 

 Their researches have made us acquainted with the existence of a peculiar 

 salifiable base in opium, which has been denominated Morphia §, and to 

 which its sedative and narcotic powers are in great part attributable. It 

 also contains another principle, named Narcotine, upon which its exciting 

 effects are said to depend ; codeine, another cry st alii zable substance, having 

 narcotic properties ; narceine, meconine, meconic acid, oil, gum, resin, 

 fcecula, caoutchouc, lignin, and sulphate of limd and potassa : to which may 

 be added a distinct substance more recently discovered, paramorphia or 

 ihebaia. 



Poisonous Properties. According to Orfila, opium is most ener- 

 getic when directly introduced into the blood; and more potent when 

 applied to a wound than when taken into the stomach. The effects of 

 opium are exerted chiefly on the brain and nervous system. On animals 

 in general it produces much more of convulsion and excitement than it does 

 upon man. 



* See Magendie's Formulary, translated by Gregory, 1835, p. 21. 



•\ Thomson's Dispensatory, ed. 8. p. 482. 



% Ibid. 1. c. 



§ For the various modes of obtaining morphia and the other constituents 

 of opium, with their properties, we must refer to the works already quoted, 

 also to the Quarterly Journal of Science, May, 1830, Annales de Chimie, 

 vol. xlv.— Annales de Chimie et Phys. vol. v., &c, &c. 



