Proceedings of the British Association. 51 



Arthur Connell communicated some additional observations on 

 the vohaic decomposition of alcohol ; his experiments appearing 

 to him to prove that water exists as such in absolute alcohol. 



On the compound or radical called kakodyl, by Prof. Bunsen of 

 Marburg. This is a new radical resembling alcohol, in which arse- 

 nic replaces the oxygen of that compound. The oxide of kako- 

 dyl has so great an affinity for oxygen, that when exposed to the 

 air it immediately inflames. The bodies produced by the com- 

 bustion are arsenious acid, carbonic acid, and water. By the fur- 

 ther oxidation of the oxide of kakodyl, kakodylic acid is produ- 

 ced. The sulphuret of kakodyl is similar in composition to the 

 oxide, and participates in many of its properties. The telluret, 

 selenuret, iodide and bromide of kakodyl were also examined. 

 The danger attending these experiments is very great, and the 

 poisonous effects produced by the inhalation of the vapor, were 

 described as dreadful. Kakodyl is produced from the liquor of 

 Cadet, and is extremely interesting as being a link connecting 

 organic and inorganic chemistry. Prof B. is engaged in further 

 experiments on this subject, and has already obtained many new 

 combinations. 



New method of preparing Morphine a?id its salts, by Dr. 

 Mohs, of Coblentz. This mode of separating morphine from nar- 

 cotine, and all other heterogeneous substances, consists in dissolv- 

 ing it in an excess of caustic lime, and precipitating it by mu- 

 riate of ammonia. This method of precipitation is in principle 

 very similar to the precipitation of alumina, from a solution in 

 caustic potash. The process is as follows : the opium is boiled 

 in water, in which it readily dissolves ; the decoction is strained 

 through a linen cloth and the dregs are pressed ; this operation of 

 boiling and straining is repeated twice on the same quantity of 

 opium, and the solution of the whole concentrated until its 

 weight is four times that of the opium employed. The concen- 

 trated solution is, while still warm, mixed with milk of lime, pre- 

 pared with a quantity of dry lime equal to the fourth part of the 

 weight of the opium. The mixture is heated till it boils, and is 

 filtered through linen while hot. The filtered liquor has a light 

 brown yellow color. While still hot it is mixed with pulverized 

 sal ammoniac in excess ; the lime is saturated with muriatic acid, 

 ammonia is set free, and the morphine is precipitated. When the 

 solution is greatly concentrated, the precipitation is instantaneous, 



