182 DRS CRUM BROWN AND FRASER ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN 



MORPHIA. 



The most recent and trustworthy investigations show that, among the opium 

 alkaloids, morphia (C 17 H 19 N0 3 + H 2 0) is next in activity as a soporific to narceia, 

 that it possesses a less convulsant action than codeia, and that its fatal dose is 

 one of the largest of those of the active principles of opium.* 



Iodide of meihyl-morphium (C 17 H 19 N0 3 CH 3 1). — -How subjected morphia to 

 the action of iodide of ethyl and of iodide of methyl, prepared and described a 

 number of the ethyl-morphium and methyl-morphium compounds, and proved 

 that morphia is a nitrile base.f We prepared the iodide of methyl-morphium by 

 How's method, viz., by treating morphia with alcohol and an excess of iodide of 

 methyl in a sealed tube, at 100° C., for an hour, distilling off the excess of iodide 

 of methyl, and recrystallising from hot water. 



It forms long, transparent, prismatic needles ; and dissolves in 34 parts of 

 water at 37° C, and in 885 parts of water at 9° C. 



As it is well known that comparatively large doses of morphia are required 

 to produce any symptom in such animals as rabbits, we at once commenced the 

 administration of iodide of methyl-morphium in very large doses. We were 

 unable to produce any effect whatever when so large a dose as twenty grains was 

 injected under the skin of a small rabbit ; and, as this could only be adminis- 

 tered as a fine powder, suspended in warm distilled water, it was extremely 

 inconvenient to give any larger quantity in a form necessarily so bulky. Eight 

 grains of morphia was afterwards exhibited, in the same way, to this rabbit, and 

 it caused the usual symptoms and death. It may be interesting and satisfactory 

 to give some details of these two experiments. 



Experiment CI. — Twenty grains of iodide of methyl-morphium was reduced 

 to a fine powder, mixed with two drachms of warm distilled water, and injected 

 into two previously formed subcutaneous cavities at the flanks of a rabbit, weigh- 

 ing two pounds and fourteen ounces. The rabbit was carefully observed for four 

 hours, but no symptom occurred during this time. It was perfectly well on the 

 following morning. 



Experiment CV. — Eight grains of morphia, suspended in warm distilled water, 

 was introduced into the subcutaneous cellular tissue of the rabbit that had been 

 employed, two days previously, in Experiment CI. In one hour and four minutes, an 

 inclination to sleep was observed, the eyelids closed, and the head sank on the table, 

 but a slight sound immediately roused the rabbit. In two hours, the soporific 

 effect was more marked ; and the animal remained in almost any position in 

 which it could be placed, provided the change was made gradually and gently ; 



* Claude Bernard, Comptes Rendus, vol. lix. 1864, p. 413. 

 ■f" Chemical Society's Quarterly Journal, vol. vi. (1853) p. 126. 



