90 



FRUITS 



The student should observe 



(a) The sessile stellate stigmas, 



(b) The membranous placentas, 



(c) The reniform shape of the seed and the reticulations on its 



surface. 



Constituents. Poppy capsules contain the principal constituents of 

 opium, the most important of which is the crystalline alkaloid mor- 

 phine. Ripe capsules have been found to contain 0*018 (Malin,1906), 

 0-16 (Dieterich), and 0'28 (Paul and Cownley) percent, of morphine ; 

 unripe 0'06 (Malin) and 0'086 (Dieterich) per cent. ; there is, therefore, 



FIG. 50. Poppy capsule, cut vertically. (Planchon 

 and Collin.) 



FIG. 51. 

 Poppy 

 seed. Mag- 

 n i f i e d. 

 (Bentley 

 and Tri- 

 men.) 



some uncertainty as to the actual and the relative medicinal value of 

 ripe and unripe fruits. 



Poppy capsules also contain meconic acid, an organic acid found 

 only in the latex of the opium poppy. Although this acid is not an 

 active constituent from a therapeutic point of view, the detection of 

 its presence is often important as indicating a preparation of poppy 

 capsules or of opium. 



The seeds are free from morphine, but are said to contain traces of 

 narcotine and amorphous alkaloid ; the principal constituent in them 

 is the pale yellow fixed oil (see ' Poppy Oil 5 ) ; it is a drying oil and 

 is used by artists as well as for culinary and various technical pur- 

 poses. They occasionally (Russian seeds) contain henbane fruits. 



\. The action of poppy capsules is the same as that of opium, 

 but much weaker. The warm decoction is a favourite anodyne fomenta- 



