OPIUM 421 



excluding the sugary pulp of apricots and other fruits. The insoluble 

 residue will contain portions of the outer epidermis of the poppy 

 capsule, but not of the inner (absence of powdered capsules) ; such 

 fragments are more frequent in Turkey than in Indian opium, the 

 former, obtained usually from a horizontal incision, requiring more 

 scraping than the latter, in which the opium collects at the bottom 

 of a vertical incision. Starch should not be present in appreciable 

 quantity ; it is, however, regularly found in Persian opium (Mjoen, 

 1895), and traces are said to be frequently present in Turkey opium 

 (Csesar and Loretz, 1898) but not in quantity sufficient to constitute 

 an adulteration. 



Assay. Opium may be assayed by the official process. 



}. Opium is one of the most valuable of drugs. It is unexcelled 

 as an hypnotic and sedative, and is frequently administered to relieve 

 pain and calm excitement. It is also used as an astringent in diarrhoea 

 and dysentery, and as a sedative in certain forms of cough, dyspnoea, 

 &c. 



LACTUCARIUM 



Source, &c. Lactucarium consists of the dried latex of Lactuca 

 virosa, Linne (N.O. Compositce), and other species of Lactuca. Lactuca 

 virosa is a native of central and southern Europe, but is cultivated in 

 England. 



All the plants belonging to the sub-order Liguliflorce, in which 

 the genus Lactuca is included, contain a system of laticiferous vessels 

 forming an anastomosing network penetrating to all parts of the 

 plant (compare fig. 177). They are especially numerous in the bast 

 of the stem, but are present also in the pith. Hence when the stem 

 of L. virosa is wounded a free exudation of latex takes place in the 

 form of white milky fluid of intensely bitter taste. This latex when 

 dried constitutes the drug. It is collected in Germany near Zell on 

 the Mosel, where most of the commercial drug is produced, by cutting 

 the stem off about a foot below the summit ; the latex which exudes 

 is taken off by the finger and transferred to a china cup. It soon 

 coagulates and is then removed from the cup by warming and gently 

 tapping, when it falls out in the shape of a blunt cone which may 

 be dried entire or cut into four pieces and dried. Thin slices are 

 daily taken off the stem and the collection of lactucarium thus 

 proceeds during the summer. The annual production is only about 

 150 kilograms. 



Description. German lactucarium occurs in hard, opaque, irregular, 

 angular pieces, sometimes flat or cur , CO. on one or two of their sides, 

 of a dingy brown or reddish brown colour. In the interior they are 

 paler ; if quite fresh creamy white and of the consistence of wax ; 



