1889-90.] Mr Dott and Dr Stockman on Morphine. 
321 
Pharmacology of Morphine and its Derivatives. By D. B. 
Dott, F.C.S., F.I.C., and Ralph Stockman, M.D., Research 
Scholar of the British Medical Association. 
(Read July 7, 1890.) 
It is necessary for a clear understanding of the chemical changes 
which occur on treating morphine in various ways, and for compar- 
ing its physiological action with that of the bodies so formed, that 
we should summarise at some length the exact position of our 
present knowledge regarding its chemistry and pharmacology. 
Morphine has the composition represented by the formula 
C 17 H 19 N0 3 . It is generally supposed^ crystallise with one mole- 
cule of water, hut there is reason to believe that the composition of 
the hydrated base is really 8 C 17 H 19 N0 3 , 9 H 2 0, the water being 
present in the proportion of 1^ molecule. Morphine is a monacid 
base, forming neutral and readily soluble salts with all the stronger 
acids. Like all alkaloids, it is built up on the ammonia (NH 3 ) 
type, and is a tertiary amine, all the hydrogen atoms having been 
replaced by more or less complex radicals. This is shown to 
he the case by the fact that when treated with methyl iodide, the 
latter body becomes directly united to the morphine molecule, com- 
bining with the nitrogen and so forming a quaternary ammonium 
base, analogous to tetramethyl-ammonium iodide. Such alkaloidal 
derivatives are therefore to be regarded as additioii compounds, as 
indicated in the formula C l7 H 19 N0 3 , CH 3 I. To How belongs the 
credit of having been the first to form these compounds, by acting 
on morphine, codeine, strychnine, and other alkaloids with alkyl- 
iodides. He fell into the error, however, of regarding them as sub- 
stitution compounds, in which hydrogen had been replaced by the 
different alcohol radicals. 
Although the constitution of morphine is not' exactly known, 
much information has been accumulated regarding it, and our 
knowledge of certain of the groups contained in the molecule is 
considerable, and of practical importance. The first distinct advance 
in such knowledge was made by Beckett and Wright, who found 
that by treating morphine with acetic acid and acetic anhydride, 
first one and then another hydrogen atom were replaced by the 
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