TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 69 



It hence appears that the emetic action (on cats) of di-derivatives becomes much 

 increased as the abstraction of the elements of water goes on, whilst the oppo- 

 site holds in the case of the tetra-derivatives. Isonierides in different series may 

 or may not have the same kind of physiological action ; thus diapodimorphine 

 and its isomeride tetrapotetramoi-phine are not far apart in their effects, whilst 

 tetrapodimorphine and its isomeride octapotetramorphiue are very dissimilar — just 

 as morphine, trimorphine, and tetramoi-phine, or codeine, dicodeine, tricodeine, and 

 tetracodeine are different in physiological action. 



The differences in chemical reactions -between the four series of polymerides and 

 their derivatives are as well marked as are their physiological properties; thus 

 when either " apomorphine," diapomorphine, or " deoxymorphine " (all of which 

 are di-derivatives) is dissolved in caustic potash solution, a liquid is obtained which 

 rapidly absorbs oxygen from the air : on acidifying this liquid with hydrochloric 

 acid and agitating with ether, a substance is dissolved out which communicates to 

 the ether a magniticeut pm-ple tint. This colouring-matter is possessed of the some- 

 what remarkable property of giving solutions of very different colours and shades 

 with various solvents, the same quantity being dissolved to the same bulk in each 

 case : thus alkalies dissolve it, forming a bright green liquid ; water containing 

 ammoniacal salts, a beautiful blue ; whilst alcohol, chloroform, bisulphide of carbon, 

 ether, and benzene dissolve it, forming liquids of shades varying ti-om violet-blue 

 to red -purple, but differing in each case. The puie substance is indicated by the 

 formula C^g H31 N.^ O.. It is insoluble in acids, and forms an indigo-blue powder 

 exhibiting traces of crystallization. 



Only di-derivatives are capable of giving rise to this colouring-matter ; mono-, 

 tri-, and tetra-derivatives of morphine and codeine do not yield a trace of it, provided 

 the substances used are perfectly free fi-om all admixture of di-derivatives. 



Again, the action of heat (15()°-180°) on the hydrochlorides of monomorphine de- 

 rivatives causes them to decompose ; and on distilling with potash the resulting 

 substance, a mixture of methylamine and jn/ridine is obtained. On subjecting tetra- 

 morphine derivatives to the same treatment, methi/lamitie only is produced ; whilst 

 " apomoi-phine " (the only di-derivative available in sufficient quantity for the ex- 

 permient) yields no volatile base at all by this treatment. 



It would hence seem probable that the relations of the nitrogen to the other ele- 

 ments present are different in the different series of polymerides. Experiments are 

 contemplated with a view to estimating the different amounts of " Intrinsic Chemi- 

 cal Energy " present in equal weights of isonierides in the different series. ( Vide 

 " Report "on Essential Oils." 



The derivatives of morphine and codeine (upwards of forty in number) that have 

 been obtained during the last few years may, with only one or two inconsiderable excep- 

 tions, be all regarded as derived from one or other of the polymerides, M, M^, M3, Mj, 

 or C, Cj, C3, Ci, by addition or subtraction of hydrogen, addition of the elements of 

 hydrochloric (hydrobromic or hydriodic) acid, and elimination of the elements of 

 water ; all consequently are expressible by the general formulae 



(C±IIp)x+ wHX-MHa O, 



or _ 



(M+IIp)j,+/HHX-«H3 0, 

 where 



p has values varying from to 8 ; 



x = l, 2, .3, or 4, giving rise to the mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-series respectively; 



m varies from to 4 ; 



n varies from to 12 ; and 



X stands for either CI, Br, or I. 



Thus the base provisionally termed bromotetracodeine may be written 



{(C-H)^+2HBr}, deoxymorphine as {(M + HJ,-4H2 0}, 



o on. Tables giving the composition of these derivatives, formulated and 

 ged on this principle, are given m the ' Journal of the Chemical Society,' 1873, 



and so 

 arran 



