42 PAPAVERACEiE. 



narcotine. He also obtained mucilage perceptible by neutral acetate 

 of lead, ammonium salts, meconic, tartaric, and citric acid, the ordinary 

 mineral acids, wax, and lastly two new crj^stalline bodies, Pajyaverin, 

 and Papaverosine. The former is not identical with Merck's alkaloid 

 of the same name ; although nitrogenous and bitter, it has an acid 

 reaction (?), yet does not combine with bases. It yields a blue precipi- 

 tate with a solution of iodine in iodide of potassium. 



Papaverosine on the other hand is a base to which sulphuric acid 

 imparts a violet colour, changing to dark yellowish-red on addition of 

 nitric acid. 



In ripe poppy heads, Hesse (1866) found Rhoeadine. Groves in 1854 

 somewhat doubtfully announced the presence of Codeine. Fricker ^ 

 stated to have obtained from the capsules 010 per cent, of alkaloid, 

 and Krause ^ was able to prove the presence of traces of morphine, 

 narcotine, and meconic acid. Ripe poppy capsules (seeds removed) 

 dried at 100° C. afforded us 14"28 per cent, of ash, consisting chiefly 

 of alkaline chlorides and sulphates, with but a small quantity of 

 phosphate. 



Production — Poppies are grown for medicinal uses in many parts 

 of England, mostly on a small scale. The large and fine fruits (poppy 

 heads) are usually sold entire ; the smaller and less slightly are broken 

 and the seeds having been removed are supplied to the druggist for 

 pharmaceutical preparations. The directions of the pharmacopoeia as 

 to the fruit being gathered when " nearly ripe " does not appear to be 

 much regarded. 



Uses — In the form of syrup and extract, poppy heads are in com- 

 mon use as a sedative. A hot decoction is often externally applied as 

 an anodyne. 



In upper India an intoxicating liquor is prepared by heating the 

 capsules of the poppy with jagghery and water.^ 



OPIUM. 



Botanical Origin — Papaver somniferuni L., see preceding article. 



History* — The medicinal properties of the milky juice of the 

 poppy have been known from a remote period. Theophrastus who 

 lived in the beginning of the 3rd century B.C. was acquainted with the 

 substance in question, under the name of Mijkwviov. The investigations 

 of Unger (1857 ; see Gapsulm Papaveris,) have failed to trace any 

 acquaintance of ancient Egypt with opium. 



Scribonius Largus in his Compositiones Medicamentorinn^ (circa 

 A.D. 40) notices the method of procuring opium, and points out that the 

 true drug is derived from the capsules, and not from the foliage of the 

 plant. 



^ Dragendorfif's Jahresbericht, 1874. 148. 1876, 229, reprinted in Pharm. Journ. vii. 



3 Archiv der Pharm. 204 (1874) 507. (2 Dec. 1876; 23 June 1877), pp. 452 and 



' Catal. Ind. Departm. Irdernai. Exhibi- 1041. 

 tion. 1862. No. 742. 5 Ed. Bemhold, Argent. 1786, c. iii. sect. 



*For more particulars see Dr. Rice's 22. 

 learned notes in 2few Remedies, New York, 



