190 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
analysis is the large percentage (23-14) of sulphuric anhydride found, 
mostly combined with potash. Mr J. Scott, in his Manual of Opium 
Husbandry, gives analyses of poppy plant ash, in which the sul- 
phuric anhydride varies from 5-93 to 10 '08 per cent. Mr Scott 
points out that the larger the amount of sulphuric acid in the plant, 
the smaller is the yield of morphia : — 
SO 3 in Plant Ash. 
Morphia in Opium. 
5-93 
8-66 
7-64 
6-47 
10-08 
4-65 
Kef erring to these results. Dr Warden remarks : — “ It would be 
interesting to ascertain whether or not there is a similar correlation 
between the SOg in the opium ash and the amount of morphia con- 
tained in the drug. Possibly the SOg in opium may be directly 
proportionate to its richness in morphia.” 
In order to determine whether this surmise is correct, the sul- 
phuric anhydride in a number of opiums was estimated by exhaust- 
ing the drug with water, adding large excess of hydrochloric acid, 
and then precipitating with chloride of barium. It was found that 
this method avoided the precipitation of meconate. In the table 
below are given the percentages of sulphuric anhydride and morphia 
found in various samples of Turkey and Persian opium. As it 
cannot be pretended that any process for assaying opium gives 
absolutely accurate results, the figures under morphia are only 
considered comparative, and as an approximation to the truth. 
a, 
SO 3 per cent. 
2-08 
MHgO per cent. 
8-5 
2-01 
15-3 
1-97 
12-3 
d, 
1-94 
12-1 
1-74 
9-8 
R 
1-72 
12-2 
D65 
7-9 
lu 
D50 
9-5 
j, 
1*49 
IIT 
1-07 
2-0 
It is evidently impossible to deduce from these results any general 
