24 Observations and Experiments on Opium. 



of our shops, which is a very uncertain preparation, differing 

 every where in activity, from the indefinite and vague man- 

 ner in which it is directed to be made, to say nothing of the 

 worse than useless articles which enter into its composition, 

 such as yeast, nutmegs, and saffron.* The black drop owes 

 its superiority over laudanum to the acetic acid in its compo- 

 sition, and to that alone, and it will be admitted by those 

 conversant with these materials, that acetic acid exercises a 

 most powerful influence in modifying the effects of opium, 

 and I can account for it in no other way than by its union 

 with the morphia ; which being thereby rendered more so- 

 luble this union will consequently facilitate or produce its 

 effects, which are directly sedative in place of the stimulating 



* It is a circumstance of a singular nature that so imperfect and un- 

 scientific a preparation, should so long have maintained a place in our 

 materia medica. I believe there is no formula for the most innocent 

 compound in the pharmaceutical catalogue, so extremely indefinite in de- 

 scribing the mode of its preparation, and allowing so great a scope to the 

 judgment of the operator. In the first place, the vinegar containing the 

 opium, nutmeg, and saffron is directed to be boiled to a proper consis- 

 tence. The activity of the preparation will consequently be subject to 

 as much variation as the ideas of persons may differ in relation to what is 

 termed a proper consistence, and while one person after evaporating 

 perhaps one-eighth of the menstrua would consider it of proper consis- 

 tence, another might think it necessary to reduce it one-fourth, and a 

 third might even conceive that one half was the right consistence, and 

 the strength of the preparation would consequently be subject to a like 

 enormous variation. In the second place, we are directed to digest for 

 seven weeks, and then place in the open air until it becomes a syrup. 

 We cannot see the propriety of digesting so long a time, if it be at all 

 necessary, when the menstruum if not saturated with opium by the pre- 

 vious boiling, has at least taken up all its soluble matter. Exposing it 

 to the air until it becomes a syrup, is subject to as many objections as 

 boiling to a proper consistence, and is almost as indefinite. The con- 

 sistence of a syrup is of no fixed standard, but differing from a thin 

 fluid to the density of honey. It is lastly directed to be bottled and a 

 little sugar to be added to each bottle. What quantity is meant by a 

 little sugar, and what size the bottles are to which it is to be 

 added, we are left to surmise ; the strength of the preparation will 

 of course be diminished and subject to variation, in a ratio with 

 the quantity which each individual may think proper to add, to say 

 nothing about the worse than useless addition of sugar to what is al- 

 ready a syrup. We think an article so active as the black drop should 

 be prepared with more care, and particular and specific directions given 

 for the mode of its preparation. A very ingenious essay upon this sub- 

 ject is given by Mr. Thomas Evans, in the journal of the Philadelphia 

 College of Pharmacy. 



