134 Proceedmgs of Royal Society of Edinburgh, [ jan . 30 , 
morpliine hydrochloride and morphine hydrochloride in equal 
quantities dissolved in a little water, allows almost the whole of 
the latter salt to crystallise out, and does not dry up to a varnish 
over sulphuric acid, hut to a crystalline mass wetted by a syrup, 
which finally dries up to a glaze over the crystals.” Wright 
obtained from the chloroplatinate 19’45 per cent. Pt ; the mono- 
acetylmorphine compound requiring 19*29 per cent, of metal. 
We have repeated Wright’s experiments, with the results under- 
noted. 15 grams of morphine were dried at 120° C., and thoroughly 
mixed with 1*25 gram acetic anhydride. The mixture was then 
warmed on the water-bath for half an hour, treated with water 
and with sodium carbonate in slight excess, and the whole shaken 
up with ether. On separating and evaporating the ether a non- 
crystalline residue remained, to which dilute hydrochloric acid was 
added in quantity just sufficient to render faintly acid. The strong 
solution showed no signs of crystallisation even after the lapse of 
two days. To a portion of the solution platinic chloride was added, 
and the washed precipitate dried at 120° C. On ignition 0*124 
gram gave 0*023 gram Pt = a yield of 18*54 per cent. 
^ 34 ^ 36 (^ 2 ^ 3 ^) 2 ^ 2 ^ 6 *P^^ 2^^6 givcs 18*48 per cent. Pt. 
C 34 H 3 ^(C 2 H 30 )]Sr 20 g.PtH 2 Clg gives 19*53 per cent. Pt. 
In this experiment there is no evidence that any monoacetyl- 
morphine was formed, although the conditions were most favourable 
for its formation. The solution must have contained either diacetyl- 
morphine or a mixture of tetracetylmorphine and morphine. 
Wright’s assumption, that the supposed monoacetylmorphine could 
not have contained morphine, because the latter is insoluble in 
ether, is not well founded. Under certain conditions, probably 
when it is freshly precipitated and partially amorphous, morphine 
is soluble in ether. The evidence from the non-crystalline condition 
of the product is far from conclusive, as crystallisation is influenced 
by a variety of circumstances not well understood; and it must 
be remembered that tetracetylmorphine hydrochloride is a very 
soluble and not readily crystallisable salt, which may form a basic 
compound with morphine. 
(3) Ethylmorphine . — Since Wright contributed his papers on 
morphine derivatives, it has been shown by Grimaux,^ that part of 
* Comptes Bend . , xcii. 
