OPIUM 417 



the afternoon, and on the following morning the latex that has exuded 

 and partially dried is scraped off with a knife. The scrapings are 

 united, and as soon as sufficient has been collected it is formed into a 

 cake which is further dried by exposure to the sun. 



These cakes are wrapped in poppy leaves (Turkey; Bulgaria) or 

 paper (Persia), and are then ready for exportation. 



Varieties of Opium. 1. Turkey. This variety of opium is obtained 

 in both south-eastern Europe and Asia Minor. In the former, 

 Macedonia produces increasing quantities of opium which are exported 



FIG. 234. Turkey Opium. Slightly reduced. 

 (Pharmaceutical Journal.) 



from Salonica, and the cultivation is being pushed forward in Bulgaria ; 

 in Asia Minor, the central and north-western districts yield the bulk 

 of the drug, which is sent chiefly from Constantinople, Smyrna and 

 Salonica. 



Turkey opium occurs in flattened cakes varying commonly from 

 J to 1 kilogram in weight, occasionally much larger (5 kilograms). 

 They are covered with a greyish green leaf of the poppy plant, 

 the broad midrib of which is usually conspicuous, and are sprinkled 

 over with* the brown, triangular, winged fruits of a species of 

 Rumex. These are thrown amongst the cakes by the opium 

 merchants to prevent them from sticking together when packed in 

 cases (' chests ') for shipment. 



When fresh the drug is plastic ; internally, it has a rich reddish 



27 



