1889-90.] Mr Dott and Dr Stockman on Morphine. 363 
after 0’3 grm. a rabbit became drowsy, bad marked increase of 
reflexes, and died in 55 minutes. The motor nerves were found to 
be paralysed. 
As a result, we must conclude that methylcodeium sulphate has 
the same qualitative action as codeine and other members of the 
morphine group. Its quantitative action on different parts of the 
nervous system is, however, not the same. 
Action of Methyl-codeium Sulphate on Rabbits. 
No. 
Weight of Rabbit 
in Grins. 
Dose in 
Grms. 
Dose per Kilo. Body 
Weight. 
Effects. 
1 
1110 
o-i 
0*09 
Yery slight quietude, lasting about 2 hours. 
2 
1110 
o-i 
0-09 
Quieter for about 2 hours. Respiration fell some- 
what and pupils became smaller. 
3 
1170 
0-2 
0-17 
Experiment in text. 
4 
1150 
0-2 
0*18 
Same as Experiment 3. 
Drowsiness in 5 minutes, pupils became small, 
respiration much slowed, reflexes increased on 
stimulation, and also gave spontaneous tetanic 
starts. Death in 55 minutes. Heart found 
beating after death ; sciatic nerves inexcitable. 
5 
1560 
0-3 
0-19 
Methocodeine. 
This substance was investigated by Grimaux, who named it 
methocodeine, and also by Hesse, who describes it as methylmorphi- 
methin. It is apparently the methyl ether of methylmorphine ; in 
other words, it is codeine in which one of the non-hydroxyl atoms 
of hydrogen has been replaced by methyl. It is formed by the 
action of caustic potash oh codeine methiodide. 
Ci 8 H 21 N0 3 .CH 3 I + KHO = C 19 H 23 N0 3 + KI + H 2 0. 
We prepared the compound by the following method : — Morphine 
was dissolved with an equivalent quantity of soda in purified wood 
spirit, and an equivalent of methyl iodide added. The solution 
was then warmed for half an hour, allowed to cool, a second 
equivalent of methyl iodide and of soda added, and the solution 
again heated. The spirit was then evaporated, water added, and 
the solution exhausted with chloroform. The chloroform having 
