53 Proceedings of the British Association. 



and is almost equal in volume to half the solution. When the 

 solution is less concentrated, there is at first no precipitation, but 

 as the liquor cools open needles appear, and at a certain point a 

 large mass of precipitate is suddenly formed. The peculiarity of 

 this process is, that it affords a well crystallized and fine product 

 of morphine, without the use of alcohol. This is due to the 

 fact that the ammonia is not added in a free state, but is genera- 

 ted in immediate contact with the substance to be acted upon. 

 The morphine is nearly colorless : by dissolving it in muriatic 

 acid, and crystallizing, we obtain pure muriate of morphine in 

 white crystals. The milk of lime, it is to be observed, must not 

 be added to a boiling hot solution of the crude opium, for then 

 the precipitate adheres to the sides of the vessel, and does not af- 

 terwards redissolve perfectly. The liquor containing the mor- 

 phine should either be cold or only lukewarm, when the milk of 

 lime is added to it. If it is boiling hot, it must be added to the 

 milk of lime, and not vice versa. 



Dr. Schafhaeutl read a paper on a new method of photogenic 

 drawing. — Prof. Graham gave an abstract of Prof. Liebig's new 

 chemical views relative to Agriculture and Physiology. — Prof. 

 Playfair read a statement of Prof. Liebig's new views on the 

 subject of poisons. — Dr. P. gave an account of a new fat acid. — 

 Mr. J. J. Griffin read a paper on a new method of crystallographic 

 notation. He classes the planes of crystals into seven elementary 

 sets, which he calls /orw5 ; and entered into various details to 

 prove that the occurrence of planes not representable by one or 

 other of these seven forms, is a mathematical impossibility, and 

 that the proposed system of notation is amply sufficient for all 

 the purposes of the chemist and mineralogist, while it has over 

 other systems of crystallography, the advantage of requiring but 

 a small amount of mathematical knowledge. 



Prof. F. Penny communicated details and results of his exper- 

 iments on the action of nitric acid on the chlorates, iodates, and 

 bromates of potassa and soda. — Dr. R. D. Thomson gave his 

 views on the tests for sulphuric acid when thrown upon the per- 

 son. — Prof. Johnston stated his experiments on the resin of sarco- 

 colla. — Prof. T. Thomson enumerated the minerals found in the 

 neighborhood, among which were nine species of lead ore, and 

 numerous minerals of the zeolite family. Sulphuret of cadmium 

 had been lately discovered along with prehnite, at Bishoptown : 



